DUNFERMLINE'S potential new owners need to get the fans onside and "get us moving in the right direction".

Lifelong supporter Billy George, part of the Pars United movement that helped save the club a decade ago, hopes that investment in the club and new faces in the boardroom will lead to better fortunes on the pitch.

An American-based consortium has emerged as a front-runner to purchase DAFC Fussball GmbH's stake and talks are at an advanced stage, with the possibility that a deal could be done before the end of the year.

Billy, of Visit Dunfermline, said: "All those involved are keeping it close to their chests, as they should, but something needs to happen, and happen quickly.

"They may not be from here, and we've been through that with the German investors, where there were always questions about what's their end game?

"Whoever comes in we have to hear from them, give them a chance to put their plans forward and get us moving in the right direction."

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One of the criticisms levelled at the German investors was a lack of communication with the fans and he continued: "Right now we don't have a plan.

"We're 10 years on from the club going into administration and a club the size of Dunfermline Athletic shouldn't be where it is.

"We should be, if not in the Premiership, at least at the top end of the Championship.

"For the size of the support we have, we're the biggest club in that division but there's something lacking.

"When you go to matches there's no expectation, it's same old same old and with the players we have we shouldn't be where we are, I feel we should be much higher in the league.

"That's not a direct criticism of the management, more a sign there's something not right at the club."

In August, the Hamburg-based group of investors announced their intention to sell their shares in the club, four years after they first became involved at DAFC.

They said the decision was made with "sadness and regret" and that "many seem to prefer an investor who has deep pockets to throw at the first team and try for the best over and over again each season".

The DAFC Fussball GmbH statement said "we are not this kind of investor and therefore have detected an increasing disappointment in our approach", and that "therefore, we are not the right kind of investor in the eyes of many at the club".

An experienced football broker was appointed to try and find a buyer and, last month, the club said that several groups had signed non-disclosure agreements to allow them to "carry out in-depth analysis".

At the time of their announcement DAFC Fussball GmbH said that Pars United Community Interest Company were still the "majority owners" and that they had "every reason to believe that there will be no shortage of interest in the club".

Pars are currently second bottom in the Championship and Billy said: "Apparently the training is good, all the players get on fine but on the park it's lacking and I think that's indicative of what's happening off the park.

"To be successful a club has to be right from top to bottom, where everyone feels valued, they're all pulling in the same direction and creating a positive environment.

"Success can come from there. But it's been a hard 10 years."