Manager on Tuesday

Mark Kerr offered terms as the Pars prepare to try and give the chop to the Butcher Boys

Jim McIntyre confirmed that Dunfermline Athletic have offered terms to Mark Kerr. The 29 year old midfielder has been with the Greek side Asteras Tripolis since June 2010 and prior to that played alongside Macca in some of his 164 matches for Dundee United. Mark is said to be considering the Fifers offer along with those from other clubs. "That is what happens when you are a top player, you have choices" said the Pars boss who is finding acquisitions during this transfer window quite testing:-

"It is proving to be frustrating, and slow which the January window tends to be.Generally things don't start moving until the last week to ten days.Other teams start to know where their squad is at if they have added to it.  A lot of teams don't want to do anything early doors in case they don't get what they want and they are left a bit short. It is a frustrating window for sure."

For Wednesday night's William Hill Scottish Cup replay player availability is no better than on Saturday against Hibs:-

"Paul Burns' kick on his calf doesn't look as if it will recover in time.  It was quite a deep bit of bleeding, it's like a dead leg but on his calf, so he will struggle. It will be the same squad as we have had and obviously without Turner."

The game will give goalkeeper Chris Smith another chance in goal as recent signing Iain Turner is ineligible for the replay. Jim McIntyre acknowledged that might create a selection problem if Smith was to stand out for all the right reasons:- "Of course it does, possession is 9/10ths, so it is up to him."

Jim McIntyre is keen to extinguish the disappointment of the manner in which his side was taken to a replay in the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup. He felt it impossible to describe the scale of that 95th minute disappointment:-

"It was a severe blow but it has happened, its gone and the most important thing is that we have another chance to make amends for it. I think for both clubs it is a huge incentive to get into the next round, there is no doubt about that."

The winner on Wednesday night has the pleasure of hosting Celtic in front of the Sky cameras and the financial reward would be extremely important for either club. The Manager continued:-

"We are a similar size in terms of budgets etc. It could mean the difference of adding to your squad if you know you have that cup game coming -the trappings that come with it being live on the TV and facing Celtic who will bring a sizeable support "

He went on to discuss how he kept the squad's spirits up and banished any feelings of deflation caused by their league position "I think you can see when you are about here, they are a great group. That comes from us as well, we don't mope about if its not going our way. We are in the midst of a very poor run, we know that.

"Players must enjoy coming to their work, I am huge on that. It is one thing that I installed when I became the Manager and that will always be the case. They must enjoy their training and have a smile on their face about the training ground. It is so important and all it takes is one result to turn things and they have got to keep believing."

That's made slightly easier by the recognition that it was an improved performance on Saturday against Hibs:-

"Yes, very much so. There was a lot to be pleased about Saturday. I thought the least we deserved was a draw. Unfortunately for us Hibs were more clinical than we were and that is what has won them the game."