DUNFERMLINE have given Fabrice Fernandes just a week to prove he can help keep the club in the SPL.
Chairman John Yorkston has brought in the out-of-contract midfielder until Friday in a desperate attempt to save the Pars from relegation.
Former Rangers midfielder Fernandes, 27, is available after being axed by Beitar Jerusalem.
The Frenchman, who cost Gordon Strachan £1.1million when he took him to Southampton, has also played for Bolton and Fulham. Fernandes will be shown the door at East End Park at the end of the week if he is no better than the current squad.
Yorkston said: "It's up to the manager to decide whether he stays or goes.
"He is here for the week and hopefully everything can go well and we can sign him. We've given the manager the backing to get us out of this particular predicament.
"Who ever comes in has got to do a decent job from now until the end of the season. We're not bringing in people to make up numbers as we already have numbers. We want players who can change things quickly."
The Fifers remain eight points adrift of St Mirren at the foot of the table but Saints will stretch that lead if they avoid defeat in their game in hand at home to Motherwell tonight.
Dunfermline boss Stephen Kenny is optimistic that the Fernandes will remain in Fife.
He said: "We'll see how it goes but I am hopeful he will impress. Fabrice is without a club at the moment and came to my attention so I couldn't sit there and not do anything."