Pars Paddy Power

"I don't think the gaffer would have brought me here and I wouldn't have come here myself, if there wasn't a chance for me to play.

Though full time at Thistle it was the lure of the chance of SPL football that attracted Paddy Boyle to Dunfermline Athletic. He explained to the club's website:-

"I was offered a new contract by Thistle and one or two others but you couldn't pass off the opportunity of coming to Dunfermline and play at the top level in the country."

As the 2010-11 season drew to a close the 24 year old became aware of the interest in him from Dunfermline. His former team mate Jackie McNamara pointed out what a chance that it was should the Pars be promoted:-

"When he became the manager he didn't want me to leave but it was going to happen. Jackie has played here and he was complimentary about it."

Paddy left Livingston in 2003 to join the youth set up at Everton but the subs bench for the FA Cup Fourth Round match against Chelsea was the closest he got to playing for fellow Glaswegian Davie Moyes team. The chances of first team football at Dunfermline for Paddy might require selection ahead of Austin McCann. He almost answered the question before it was asked.

"It is not going to be easy. Obviously Ozzie is the captain and he has done well. He has taken the team up but I don't think the gaffer would have brought me here and I wouldn't have come here myself, if there wasn't a chance for me to play. I think the gaffer is the kind of guy who will go with people who are in form so hopefully if I get a chance I will be able to take it."

Paddy has played everywhere on the left side including left centre back. By his own admission he likes to attack:-

"I am strong defensively but I like to get forward - I scored five goals for Thistle last season. It is good to get forward when you can, it all depends on who is playing in front of you. With the wingers that we have here sometimes you just need to leave them to their own devices.

"Dunfermline were very difficult to play against last season because of the three or four boys who play wide. They are all very fast and even if you manage to see one of them off for 60 odd minutes, there's another with a fresh set of legs to come on."

That said the Jags had a fairly good record against Dunfermline last season; two goalless draws at East End Park and a 2-0 win and a 2-0 reverse at Firhill. Ian McCall's side got off to a poor start and had that not happened then Boyle might have been in a Thistle side that could have been pushing the Pars for the title. He hopes to get the 2011-12 season off to a better beginning:-

"I can't wait for two reasons; one all the pre season running will be finished and two everyone is desperate for it to get underway. It will be both exciting and anxious."