WITH the start of the league campaign just days away Dunfermline’s squad isn’t strong enough and – other than a goalie – there are unlikely to be any new recruits before kick-off at Livingston.

That was the update from manager James McPake after the Pars lost to Cove Rangers for their third loss in a row in the league cup.

He admitted the squad was “lacking” – in particular they only have one senior goalkeeper on the books in Deniz Mehmet - and short on confidence.

But asked if he’d be able to add more players to it before the Championship curtain raiser on Saturday, he replied: “I don’t think so.

“Potentially a goalkeeper, we will wait and see, we are working on a goalkeeper but other than that I don’t think so.”

Last week Athletic chief executive David Cook apologised to fans over the abortive attempt to register young goalie Kai McLean and on Saturday they again had no sub keeper on the bench.

McPake said: “I feel for Deniz in his situation. I have never been a goalkeeper but obviously being a centre half when you are struggling for form, you can play your way out of that, I get it.

“But at times you need a bit of help. We don’t have any help for Deniz which is very difficult for a goalkeeper I imagine. Speaking to the goalie coach, speaking to Deniz it is certainly a time where he needs help.”

He continued: “I have had goalkeepers targeted, I’m not naive enough to not do my homework.

“We are limited in terms of a squad but in every other position like Taylor (Sutherland) coming on for a striker, Andrew Tod can come on for a number 10, we have got young ones that can come on.

“We have not got that in the goalkeeper position as a club so that is disappointing.”

Asked if the need not to get injured or sent off was in the back of Mehmet’s mind, the boss said: “I wouldn’t say that but in that position it is really tough that every action you make can cost a goal.

“Deniz will be really disappointed with the first goal, he will be disappointed with the couple of goals before but that is when, at a time during a pre-season period, you can take him out of the firing line so to speak.

“He has been excellent for us over the course in terms of what he has done but really when any player is out of form you should be able to change him.”

Dunfermline have had a Premier Sports Cup campaign to forget, with home defeats from League Two side Forfar and Cove from League One bookending a defeat at Championship rivals Livingston.

And after injuries to Chris Kane and Matty Todd, the boss could have done without seeing Sam Fisher limp off with a tight hamstring after half an hour on Saturday.

Ahead of the start of the Championship, McPake said: “It is going to be another tough league campaign.

“We need to see if we can get help in for Deniz and that’s not to replace Deniz. It is to come in and compete with Deniz, to help in the training sessions which for me is pivotal.

“At the minute we are struggling with that in terms of goalkeepers for training as well. We need to work this week on that, hopefully that gets done pretty quickly, we will wait and see.”