There was a press conference in the media centre at Rugby Park today to announce that Gary McSwegan and a few other players had signed new contracts. Gary has extended his deal to the end of next season and young goalkeeper Graeme Smith, who Coventry City wanted but baulked at the compensation fee, signed on for another two years. A few of the youth team squad also extended their contracts...Liam McGuinness, Greig Gilroy and Neil McGregor, by a year and two new faces were brought in in the shape of Martin Cluliffe and Lewis Sloan.

Jim Jefferies, Ian Durrant, Gordon Marshall and Gary McSwegan were in attendance but as the interviews were conducted on a one to one basis we only had time to talk to JJ - fortunately he knows more than anyone else what the down is! The news about Falkirk had not yet broken so, being a former manager of theirs we asked him what he though about the situation. He said: "People say that it's easy for me to comment about it because I'm not directly involved but the exact same scenario could happen next year if nothing gets sorted out now."

He went on: "Football is all about results and if you have a really bad season then you should expect to go down, it's part and parcel of the game. It's then up to you to pick yourself up as quick as you can. You could argue that Falkirk were meant to be relegated last season anyway and it's only through someone else's bad fortune that they didn't go down, but for me there has to be relegation and if Falkirk meet the criteria legally, then they should be allowed up."

"Last week two of the biggest teams in the world met in the Champion's League semi-final, and they are allowed to ground share. Celtic were allowed to do it a while back there as well. I don't see any reason for it not to be allowed. There are worse things happening in football. Motherwell laid off fifteen players and then they were allowed to bring another four in, where's the justice in that? That is opening the doors for every club to treat their players the same. The English FA have got it right, clubs should be deducted points in cases like that. I think the bottom line is that Falkirk should be promoted because they've done the business on the park, but I don't see it happening."

We then spoke to him about pre-season friendlies, he said: "Everything is nearly arranged, we are only waiting on one letter coming back but we might cancel that one because they want it too early. I've still to phone St Mirren because Barry's wanting a testimonial and we'll try and fit it in on the 23rd July. We are going to train on the 24th and then go down to Durham with the squad. The lesser of the squad will play against Gateshead on the Friday night and on the Saturday we'll come home via Carlisle and play them. On the Wednesday we'll play Portsmouth and the one we've still to agree to is Sunderland on the 2nd."

The big game on Sunday will see a few enforced changes to the team. JJ commented: "Shields is out, McLaren is out, Innes is out, Dargo is out, Hessey is out and Meldrum is at risk." My retort of "I'm available" was met with a smile. He went on: "We'll have to juggle it around a wee bit at the back. I don't want to have anyone suspended for the start of next season and we've got two players on 15 penalty points just now that I didn't want to name in the squad. But due to a lack of bodies we'll now have to involve them because I want to play the strongest available side."

"Contrary to what some people think, we don't want to be doing anyone any favours and Rangers and Celtic wont be expecting any from Dunfermline or ourselves. They are professional enough that they wouldn't be doing anything for us if we were struggling or going for something. Celtic certainly never did anything when we wanted them to beat Hearts or we'd be playing for Europe on Sunday! We've got the players well warned to be at their best on Sunday. Goals scored does not matter if it finishes level, it'll be goal difference that counts first."

Jefferies has tinkered with different formations when faced with old firm opposition this season and we wondered whether he would do the same on Sunday. He said: "We will have to play with three at the back because of the players that are out. To change things we would probably have to play a couple of players out of position and if they are not in their natural positions you have to play it a wee bit more tight. Sean Dillon is a possibility but he's not been quite as sharp as I'd have liked in training recently. Wee Murray will probably be on the bench but you have to remember the size of the team we're up against, they are big boys!"

The boy Auld, who flew in from Arizona especially (aye right!), had a meeting after the press conference with out-going chief executive David Heath, and the good news is that the club have re-opened negotiations with Andy McLaren about extending his contract. For obvious reasons we cannot go into detail but the clubs cash flow problems are well documented and they are doing their damnedest to shuffle the pack and come up with the right figures to keep McLaren here. Andy wants to stay, Jim wants him to stay and the fans want him to stay as well, so hopefully David can wheel and deal enough to make it happen.