EAST Fife will start next season’s campaign without the services of influential midfielder Neil Jablonski who will quit the club at the end of this term.
Fans will be disappointed to hear that ‘Jabba’ has decided to head off to the USA for three months before visiting Australia - a trip he postponed earlier this year because of Fife’s title challenge.
East Fife boss Dave Baikie told the Mail of the news this week and said that he’ll be sad to let the third division player of the year nominee go.
“It’ll be a blow because he’s been a good player for us this season - but we’ll just have to go out and get someone bigger and better,” joked Baikie.
“We thought we were going to lose him in January but he decided to put it off to finish the season but he’s made his mind up now.”
The news of Jablonski’s departure will be tempered though with the news this week that defender Jonathon Smart has signed a two year deal with the club.
Baikie said: “Jon signed a new deal on Saturday afternoon and I’m delighted with that.
“He’s been a very important player for us and he’s had a very good season.
“We brought him in from the amateurs although he’d been at Raith Rovers before that and he has improved greatly as the season’s went on.
“He’s also scored a few goals for us this season which have been crucial because you can’t just rely on one striker all the time.”
Fife could have done with the big defender on Saturday at they were torn to shreds by Albion Rovers at New Bayview.
Baikie admits that his side were just not up to the task.
He said: “It was a very disappointing performance and we were second best all over the park.
“It may have had something to do with the fact that we didn’t have anything to play for with us already winning a play-off spot.
“The other teams in the top five all had something to play for, Berwick and Arbroath had the league, Dumbarton still could have won a play-off place and Queens Park needed to get something as well.
“The thing is, it’s going to be the case again on Saturday against Arbroath.
“But we’ll go up there and look for the win because it’s important to get that bit of momentum back up and running again.”
Depending on how results go, Saturday’s game against Arbroath could be their first of three as the two sides could meet each other in the play-offs.
But Baikie admits he’s just glad his side are still in with a shout of going up.
“If it wasn’t for the play-offs then our season would be over,” he said.
“We’ve got the chance to get in through the back door so to speak and we’ve got to make sure we take it.
“The play-offs aren’t ideal and I’m not too keen on this two legs thing - especially in the final.”
While East Fife won’t get their hands on the third division title this season one Fife player who can still get his hands on silverware is on-loan striker John Martin.
Martin, currently at junior side Kelty Hearts, scored in their 3-0 semi final win on Saturday and will line up the final at East End Park, Dunfermline, on Sunday June 3.
Baikie told the Mail that even if he wanted him to the hitman couldn’t play any part in Fife’s promotion push.
“He was sent off a few weeks ago and Kelty decided to appeal the decision.
“I think the rule in junior football is that if you appeal a decision and lose then the ban is automatically doubled so his three game ban would go up to six meaning he would miss the games anyway.
“John was only allowed to go on loan to work up his match fitness but Kelty went on a good run in the cup and asked if they could keep him a bit longer.”