Dunfermline Athletic agree deal to train at McKane Park

The Pars confirmed last month that they would leave their existing Pitreavie training base at the end of this month after Fife Council terminated the lease arrangement that was in place with the club to use the facility.

An approach was made by the Dunfermline Cricket Park Trustees - who own McKane - to the club last week and a deal has been struck that will see John Potter's team train there until 30th April 2018.

In a statement, the Pars said, "The Board of DAFC are absolutely delighted to announce that it has reached agreement with the Dunfermline Cricket Park Trustees for our playing squad to use McKane Park as its main grass training facility. As required, wet weather provision will continue to be sourced working alongside our existing partners.

"The club will end its association with Pitreavie as from 31st January, and the new initial agreement at McKane Park will commence from 1 February 2015 until 30 April 2018. It will be reviewed annually thereafter.

"In turn, our club’s entire playing and back room staff will now be based back at East End Park, in the “undercroft” in the Norrie McCathie Stand. Extensive work has been carried out in this area in recent weeks to accommodate the move, and further details in this regard will be released shortly, along with a statement of thanks to everyone who has kindly assisted our club.

"Dunfermline Athletic used McKane Park for training facilities in the 1960s.

"Ross McArthur, managing director, DAFC expanded the story, 'We are glad this matter has now been settled, and we can move forward with certainty and a greater degree of control. The last year has been challenging dealing with the complex and uncertain set of circumstances we faced at Pitreavie. We can now look forward and everyone has embraced the change, and it is both the belief of the board and the football management team that the move back to East End Park is a positive step, with all club staff working from the same location.

"Once we knew we had to move from Pitreavie, we looked at a number of alternative training facilities across West Fife to ensure we could secure the best possible location for our football staff. So many people assisted us during this process, particularly the staff at Fife Sports & Leisure Trust, who I would like to thank for their very patient support.

"Up until late last week we were on the point of securing another training facility, but then the Dunfermline Cricket Park Trustees approached us with an offer which was too good to turn down. In securing the best training facility, we had been conscious of the need for it to: be private; have good parking; be able to store our equipment; be close to East End Park; and ultimately for the area and quality of the surface to be right with good drainage. McKane Park ticks all of these boxes, and Willie and Kevin our ground staff are already familiar with the ground having cut the surface previously.

"Along with John Potter and Neil McCann, they are really enthused by the possibilities that exist to make it fit the training needs of our club. In return for use of the cricket area for training, DAFC will cut and maintain the grass on behalf of the cricket club utilising our ground staff, so we both benefit in this arrangement. More importantly, it is good for our community club to be working with the other sports clubs who are based at McKane Park, and share facilities and resource in the spirit of a proper partnership arrangement, particularly in the current economic climate.

"On behalf of our club I would like to thank all of the Dunfermline Cricket Park Trustees who agreed to make the arrangement happen so quickly, and on the reciprocal basis ultimately agreed. Their support is greatly appreciated."

Eric Spreng, trustee and former chairman of the Dunfermline Cricket Park Trustees, stated, ‘When it became apparent back in September that Dunfermline Athletic would in all likelihood be leaving Pitreavie, the trustees discussed informally the possibility of offering the club training facilities at McKane Park. However, we only raised it formally with the football club late last week and thankfully it did not take us long to reach an agreement, as it works so well for both parties.

"When John McKane donated the ground to the trust in back 1906 it was principally for the playing of the game of cricket. However he did put a clause in the trust deed which allows for the playing of other outdoor sports, providing that the cricket is not comprised. There has been hockey and tennis played on the outfield in the past, and Dunfermline Rugby Club have had a 1st XV pitch there for several years now. Some time ago the football club used McKane for pre-season fitness training, but as far as I am aware this is the first time that such a formal arrangement has been put in place. Out with the weekends the ground normally lies empty during the day and it will be great to see it being used.

"Virtually all of the trustees are Pars fans and we hope that John Potter and the rest of the lads will feel comfortable within these surroundings and can now kick on towards a push for promotion to the Championship at the end of the season. There is also good news for the trust because as part of the arrangement Dunfermline Athletic will assume responsibility for the maintenance of the cricket ground at McKane Park. The ground has not been looking at its sharpest in recent years due to a lack of manpower and equipment, but we are confident that the East End Park groundstaff will soon have it looking back at its best."