Gibson set on swift return to SPL

Killie Willie was happy to choose Pars ahead of Partick

PICTURES FROM TRAINING TUESDAY 20/06/09
Even though Willie Gibson still had a year to run on his contract at Kilmarnock, he was was keen to leave the Ayrshire club:-

"My agent was aware that Kilmarnock wanted a small fee.  Initially Partick Thistle had agreed a fee with Kilmarnock and it was in the papers that I would be re-united with Ian McCall again because I had him as my Manager at Queen of the South.  But then the gaffer said that he was interested and it wasn't long before Dunfermline agreed a fee with Kilmarnock as well."

The aspirations of the Dunfermline Athletic Manager were instrumental in securing the 24 year old midfielder:-

"I spoke to Jim McIntyre and it only took a few days to agree everything.  I waited for him to come back from holiday and then met him last Monday."

After listening to Macca, Willie was more than happy to choose Pars ahead of Partick:-

"He told me how the ambitions of the club were; he said that he had a good set of boys here and that he was just trying to add to what he had and bring the team something extra."

Willie Gibson made 59 appearances for Kilmarnock spread over three seasons, starting just 26:-

"I always felt that I didn't play enough at Kilmarnock and never really got a chance to show what I could do. Hopefully I can do that here and help the team out."

Willie described himself as a wide player equally comfortable on either side:-

"I am right footed but I have tended to play on the left at both Queen of the South and at Kilmarnock. When I play on the right I am equally comfortable so I am happy to play wherever the Manager wants me."

One goal in just over100 games for QOS meant that goal scoring is not frequent for Wilie but in his first season at Rugby Park he scored four:-

"Last year I got just one but I had a lot of assists.  To me that is just the same - a wide player supplying them for the front two is just as good as scoring them yourself.  To score them yourself it is a bonus but I am not fussed either way.

"I have taken a step down to play but also I know that there are good players here.  It is not a matter of coming here and expecting to play.  I have got to work hard and merit a place in the team.  If I am doing well then hopefully I will be, that's what I want."

Willie shares the Pars ambition to get back to the SPL and like everyone associated with the club, he is keen that it will be in 2010:-

"They have the stadium, by all accounts they have the fans - I didn't really know very much about Dunfermline when I was at Queen of the South.  Dunfermline were in the Premierleague.  When I went to Kilmarnock Dunfermline went into the First Division.  They have a great set up here so hopefully we can go all the way."