Archives | Jim McIntyre 2007-2012

Jim McIntyre`s reign as Dunfermline Athletic came to an end on 16th March 2012.

Despite the club being almost marooned at the bottom of the SPL, the end for many fans came as surprisingly as his initial appointment on 4th December 2007.

Up to that point Jim McIntyre had been a useful acquisition for a Pars team that at that time were desperate to consolidate their SPL status. He joined Dunfermline in July 2006 as an experienced striker after negotiating the termination of his contract with Dundee United. But in no time at all he was injured and injury was to affect his limited playing career with the Pars, but not before he played a significant role in helping the Pars reach their fifth Scottish Cup Final in 2007 by coolly striking home a penalty kick award late in the semi-final replay with Hibernian at Hampden Park.

Despite the Cup Final appearance which was unluckily lost to Celtic 1-0, the Pars manager Stephen Kenny had failed to keep Dunfermline in the top flight. The following season results deteriorated to the point that the Pars were second bottom of the First Division as Christmas approached.

Kenny was dismissed and to the surprise of everyone the Board went for a Player-Manager appointment, giving Jim McIntyre initially temporary charge despite him having no previous experience of either management or coaching. Any fears were soon allayed however as Jim changed both the results and the style of football being played and managed to lift the team to third place by the end of the season.

Jim had inherited a team of seasoned SPL professionals but that was part of the difficulty. Some were reaching the end of their careers, and some wanted to move on to be able to continue to play in the SPL. Over the next two seasons Jim had to build his own team and of course, stuck in the First Division, it had to be with substantially less budget than many of his predecessors. That possibly made it a slower than hoped-for process, but it was clear for all that progress was being made. Dunfermline`s points totals improved each season - 51 in 2008/09, and 58 in 2009/10 - while fans were pleased to reach the Scottish Cup semi-final in 2009 after an excellent win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the quarter-final.

Just as with his own playing career, Jim`s squads suffered more than their fair share of injury throughout his time in the hotseat. In 2010/11, it looked like most of this had been overcome and the club got off to a flying start in the First Division Championship in what was expected to be one of the most keenly fought title races ever. But just as the club`s prospects were looking great a number of key players were injured resulting in a dip in form. Jim was however able to pull off a masterstroke during the January transfer window, recruiting important players for the run in. In the end it was possibly this that gave his Pars team the advantage and in a fantastic conclusion to the season Dunfermline romped to the title ten points clear of rivals Raith Rovers, Falkirk and Dundee.

The 2011/12 season started with great hope despite Jim being unable to make huge changes to his playing squad for the SPL. Early results were promising, but a combination of inexperience and injury took its toll and Dunfermline dropped down the table to the bottom slot.

We said at the start that Jim`s departure was a surprise and that was at least in part because most fans appeared to have kept faith with what he was trying to do. There didn`t appear to be too many demonstrations or people knocking on the Chairman`s door, but Jim himself would be the first to realise that football is, in the end, all about results.

As a person Jim always had time for the fans, was always willing to give a straight answer, and he always worked hard to prepare his teams for the games ahead. In many ways it is sad that Jim has departed but we would wish to thank him for all of his efforts over more than four years as Dunfermline manager.

Jim McIntyre`s managerial reign at East End Park lasted for exactly the same number of games as the late, great Jock Stein - 192 to be precise. That actually puts Jim in the top ten for longevity as a Pars manager:

MANAGERS IN CHARGE OF MOST GAMES
Note: This does not include friendly matches

Jim`s spell as manager coincided with a lengthy period in the First Division and as a result Jim became the manager in charge of most games in the First Division since leagues were re-organised in 1975:

*For comparison, all have been shown as three points for a win but that arrangement did not come in till 1994.

Unfortunately, Jim`s short period in the SPL was the least successful, in terms of results, of any manager at Dunfermline. Of course many never made it to the SPL, but we`ll not go there!

*Success Rate: no of points accumulated against no. of points available.

However, overall Jim`s record as a manager of Dunfermline Athletic is a very good one, and he can stand among a very small group of managers who have succeeded in winning a major national competition for the Pars:

Jock Stein: Scottish Cup winners (1960/61)
George Farm: Scottish Cup winners (1967/68)
Jim Leishman: First Division Championship (1988/89), Second Division Championship (1985/86);
Bert Paton: First Division Championship (1995/96)
Jim McIntyre: First Division Championship (2010/11)
Sandy Paterson: Division 2 Championship (1925/26)

Related Stories

• Stephen Kenny 2006-2007
• Jim Leishman 2006-2007
• Davie Hay 2004-2005
• Jimmy Calderwood 1999-2004