Calderwood hunting trio

Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood still has money to spend despite losses of £1.5million and is confident he can bring in three players before May 21.

The debts, which correspond to season 1999-2000 when the club were in the First Division, were revealed to shareholders at their annual general meeting on Wednesday.

But chairman John Yorkston has told Calderwood there is cash available to bring in new players for the start of next season.

Dunfermline just missed out on a top six place in the Scottish Premier League and the East End Park boss has already lined up a trio of new faces to take them to the next stage.

Calderwood, preparing his side for Saturday's SPL match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, said: "I have been given some money to spend, but I'm not sure it's enough to compete with Manchester United.

"I still think we are two or three players short of being a top side who would be able to hold their own in the top half of the table.

"Hopefully I can get that done before we go on holiday and I go on holiday on the May 21 so I want to get in three players by then.

"I've got players in mind and I will take in more games over the next month and hopefully I'll be able to put my feet up and relax when I'm away."

Calderwood is looking for his players to respond in the right manner to losing out to Dundee for sixth spot.

His players were down after losing to Kilmarnock but he believes being unbeaten until the end of the season would make amends.

"At the beginning of the week the boys were down and I gave them a couple of days off just to recharge the batteries," said Calderwood.

"But we spoke on Tuesday morning and we had a good meeting and managed to talk about how we can improve and started to look forward.

"We have still had a tremendous season and we were on a high, but we let ourselves down at Kilmarnock.

"The boys have been so good this season and hopefully they will learn from this and build on that next time round.

Scott Thomson is a doubt against Aberdeen but midfielder Ian Ferguson hopes his leg injury will clear in time for the game.

But fringe players like Stephen Boyle, George Fotheringham and Mark McGarty will be selected as substitutes for the remaining matches of the season.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen boss Ebbe Skovdahl faces a dilemma for the final five games of the season.

The Dane wants to offer younger players like Ross O'Donnoghue and Calum Bett a chance but also recognises the need to finish well to provide more finance for the club.

"There is a lot I would like to do in the final games of the season," said Skovdahl.

"I would like to experiment with more youngsters but I'd also like to finish as high up the table as possible because the money will be important.

"But I would like to see Calum Bett and Ross O'Donnoghue in at least one game before the end of the season.

"Aberdeen have a very good youth system from s-forms upwards which makes my job easier."

Derek Young and Phil McGuire are suspended for the game although the latter is already out with a knee ligament injury.