Search on for new right hand man

01/06/19: SC - “It wasn’t until the end of the season when I spoke with the players that I actually thought about my right hand man and the coaching side of things going forward.”

Steve Crawford is actively pursuing someone to join his coaching team after Callum Davidson’s departure.

The former St Johnstone, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City and Preston North End defender joined Dunfermline in a coaching capacity in mid February with a commitment made until the end of the 2018-2019 season. Stevie explained:-

“It is something that I am working on. With respect to Callum when somebody comes into the club as quickly as he did and committed to us it wasn’t until the end of the season when I spoke with the players that I actually thought about my right hand man and the coaching side of things going forward.”

Callum made 19 appearances for Scotland and coached the national team for five or six games under Gordon Strachan. Stevie paid tribute to the 42 year old friend who he had played with for Scotland and got to know really well while doing their pro licences together.

“I cannot thank Callum enough for what he did last season with us. In terms of his full commitment I didn’t want to see us in a similar position next year. With the respect that Callum has in the game, I had to put the question to him that if something came up ‘would you be fully committed to us?’

“He went away with his family and had a holiday and he couldn’t give us that. I fully respect him because on the flip side of that there are many who would have said I’m all in and then something could possibly come up through the season.

“Sometimes in life when you go away and reflect on what is happening and where you are at that stage of your career, Callum went away and spoke to his family and has come back with a decision that he felt was right for him, his family and Dunfermline Football Club.

“I know that Ross McArthur, the board and Greg (Shields) were thankful of his efforts. I’d just like to thank him sincerely for all the work that he did for this club in difficult circumstances last year.

“I didn’t feel it was right to be looking further afield until Callum came back with a decision but now I am actively acting on getting the right person in.

“A big box for me to tick is that it is going to be a right fit to be working with players that I want to progress and, to come in and do that, it is going to have to be somebody that is willing to put in the hours.”

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