Jefferies Leaves East End Park

Jim Jefferies has resigned as manager of Scottish League One side Dunfermline.

Head coach John Potter will now take charge until at least the end of the campaign, assisted by Neil McCann. 

Jefferies took over in 2012, when he was unable to save them from being relegated from the top flight.

Financial difficulties meant the club slipped down another division the season after, and they missed out on promotion earlier this year.

Last week, 64 year old Jefferies told us he was planning to leave this year if they got promoted:

In a statement, the board of Dunfermline Athletic Football Club confirmed the news:

"Jim's intention had been to step aside at the end of the year with the team at the top of the league, and pass the reins on to John and Neil, with whom he has worked closely over the last three seasons. Unfortunately, recent results have not been satisfactory so Jim has decided that it is in the best interests of our club that he should step aside now.

"The Board wish to place on record once again their extreme gratitude to Jim Jefferies for everything that he has done for our club over the last couple of seasons. There is no doubt that many other managers might have walked away from our club, faced with the difficulties in front of him. Jim’s influence, experience, dignity and leadership were an integral part of the efforts to save our beloved club from insolvency. 

"We ask all Pars fans to remember this as Jim's legacy, and he will of course always be welcome at East End Park.

"The current season is pivotal to the long term survival and sustainability of our club as a full time team, so the Board felt action had to be taken to improve our immediate league position, and in turn increase our chances of promotion to the Championship.

"John Potter and Neil McCann are both highly rated young coaches, and we ask every Pars fan to get behind John, Neil and the team for the rest of season as 'we're in this together' and to have any chance of realising our goal we need everyone pulling in the same direction.

"All of us as Pars supporters have gone through too much in the last eighteen months to lose our focus or passion for our club at this difficult time."