Jim Leishman

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Jim Leishman, popularly known as 'Leish', (born November 15, 1953 in Lochgelly, Fife) is a former professional footballer and current director of football of Scottish Premier League team Dunfermline Athletic.

He played for Dunfermline, his first love, between 1970-71 and 1976-77 before being transferred to local rivals Cowdenbeath. Unfortunately, his playing career was cut short through injury and he opted to move into coaching and then management with Kelty Hearts Junior Football Club before becoming youth team coach and later reserve team coach at Dunfermline.

Leishman was appointed manager of the Pars at just 29 in 1983 when they languished at the bottom of the old Second Division. Successive promotions in 1985-86 and 1986-87 saw the club once again return to Scotland's top flight.

After a bitter departure from the Pars in 1990, he had unproductive spells with Montrose and Inverness Thistle. After this he enjoyed more than eight years from with Livingston from 1995, latterly as coach. There he succeeded in taking Livi into the Scottish Premier League for the first time and an historic journey into Europe by finishing an incredible 3rd following promotion, albeit 45 points behind champions Celtic. In August 2003 he returned to Dunfermline initially as General Manager. Following the sacking of Davie Hay with just three matches of the 2004-05 remaining, Leishman prevented relegation by steering the club to crucial wins over their main relegation rivals Dundee and Dundee United. Dunfermline had failed to win in their previous ten matches under Hay, but in Leishman's temporary care they hammered Dundee 5-0 and he soon took the job on a full-time basis.

In 2005-06 the Pars were once again tipped for relegation and almost lived up to that billing. They would have gone down had it not been, ironically, for his old club Livingston. An 11th placed finish, although level on points with Falkirk and Dundee United, was enough to preserve their status although it was widely accepted that a terrible Livingston side, who gathered a record low of only 18 points, were as much a contributing factor as anything else to this outcome. A particular low in this season came near the end of February when Celtic visited East End Park and left with a crushing 8-1 win. Exactly one month later Dunfermline faced Celtic in the Scottish League Cup and, despite an improved performance, they lost 3-0.

Leishman is well known for his down to earth personality, excellent relationship with Dunfermline fans, and his "aeroplane" celebrations! At one point he enjoyed a reputation for his witty attempts at delivering his thoughts on football in verse. Leishman's strengths are considered to be his man-management skills and his renowned ability to motivate and install self-belief in his players.

In September 2006 another trademark of the man, his famous moustache, which he had had since the age of eighteen, was shaved off at a benefit dinner to mark the testimonial year of Dunfermline player Andy Tod. He was convinced to do so after people at the table he was sitting at, including current Pars players, put up £1000 for charity.

Pressure on Leishman increased steadily this season after another poor start which brought just three wins in thirteen matches, but a horrendous injury list can be considered in mitigation. As of the 26th October 2006 Leishman decided to return to his post as general manager[1] with former Hearts boss Craig Levein the initial favourite to take over. Leishman had himself recommended Levein and Livingston manager John Grant Robertson as candidates but Levein moved to Dundee United following the sacking of Craig Brewster on 29th October, 2006. Brewster, a former Dunfermline player, is now said to be a strong candidate to take over at East End Park and make one of the quickest returns to management in some time.