ROSYTH Football Club have said that they are disappointed to have been left out of plans to turn the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) Grounds into a new training facility for Dunfermline Athletic.

Last night, the Pars released a statement that the Castle Road site will be turned into a new base for their first team squad, newly formed youth academy and the Pars Foundation, the charity which runs their community programme.

READ MORE: Dunfermline Athletic to take over Civil Service Club

Dunfermline confirmed that they have concluded an agreement to take control of the site, having been granted preferred bidder status in July, and hope that it will be operational, fully or partly, by June next year.

The decision to close the CSSC was made in January and, following on from that, the Press reported that the organisation had hoped that, if viable, the club could be used by the local community to access facilities that promote health, wellbeing and physical activity, as well as enabling the activities for CSSC members to be retained.

In April, local councillor, Tony Orton, told a meeting of Rosyth Community Council of a proposal for Rosyth FC - who have been without a home for more than three years - to be part of plans by Dunfermline to renovate the site.

In June, Fife Council, at a meeting of the South West Fife area committee, nine sites - including the CSSC - were identified as possible new homes for Rosyth, with area services manager, Alastair Mutch, commenting that the CSSC had appointed consultants to speak to the "six or so" interested parties, which he added had "included a conversation with Dunfermline Athletic and also Rosyth FC".

The East of Scotland League club have bene training and playing matches on the astroturf pitches at the Fleet Grounds having left their previous home, Recreation Park on Admiralty Road, in 2018.

That was after Fife Council agreed to sell the land for a Lidl supermarket and, as part of the deal, the developer was to provide a replacement pitch and facilities, which was to be at the Fleet Grounds.

However, neither supermarket nor pitch have been delivered and, in the meantime, the council identified the Fleet Grounds as the site for the new Inverkeithing High School.

In the summer, Rosyth co-manager, Russell Craig, said that they were "in regular contact" with Dunfermline, but the Pars will solely take on the site.

That has prompted a response from Rosyth, who have claimed that the Pars approached them initially to consider being part of the proposal, and that they have not been offered reasoning as to why that is no longer the case.

In an open letter, which they forwarded to the Press, they said: "After confirmation the Civil Service lease agreement has now been made with DAFC we as a club have felt the need to respond to recent comments made on social media.

"We can confirm the initial proposal submitted to CSSC by DAFC did include Rosyth Seniors FC. The plans included an East of Scotland standard pitch that would accommodate Rosyth FC.

"DAFC approached Rosyth Seniors FC at outset and requested they consider being included in this proposal. As a club we were excited to be included in such an opportunity and it was clear there was an enthusiasm in the local community.

"As talks progressed between all organisations we kept in contact with each other and there were meetings held with all parties included.

"For whatever reason during these discussions the decision was made that Rosyth Seniors FC were not to be included in the final lease agreement. The reasoning behind this has never been explained or offered to the club.

"To say we were disappointed was an understatement as the project has again set us back on our objective of securing a park.

"This project was to be an inclusive community project with the local senior football team being in-bedded in the heart of Rosyth. Unfortunately this is no longer the case and coupled with existing users of the facility being asked to leave the site due to the new lease agreement, it is again a kick in the teeth for local football.

"On a positive note we will move on as a club. The communication lines with Fife Council have never been stronger and we are currently working closely with Fife Council on two new proposals. Once a decision is made in the very near future we hope to have a new ground secured by the start of next season."

In announcing news of Dunfermline taking over the site, which was described as a "game changer" by club chairman, Ross McArthur, the Pars spoke of their hope to "unlock the full community potential of the site", which will include two full-size grass pitches; warm up and goalkeeper areas; a 3G astroturf pitch, with fencing and floodlights; an education and analysis auditorium; changing rooms and showers for the first team, and additonally, the academy and Pars Foundation; offices and meeting rooms; a kit room, laundry and boot room; an indoor sports hall; a kitchen; and an eating and rest area.

In addition, the club's strength and conditioning gym, which is currently situated in the corner of the Main and East stands at East End Park, will also be relocated to the new facility.

Mr McArthur said: "Once the facility is fully developed it will bring together the first team, our newly formed Youth Academy as well as the Pars Foundation all on one site. This creates a real identity for our club and develops the DAFC and Pars Foundation brand further into the local community of Rosyth and West Fife.

"At the same time, we are conscious of the replacement Inverkeithing High School being built nearby, and we hope to build further educational links for young people in helping them develop as young people, as well as young footballers."

Wendy Eley, Chair of CSSC Properties, said: "We are delighted to conclude the agreement with DAFC for the former CSSC Club site.

"We are incredibly pleased that the site will still be used for sport and will be at the heart of the local community – aligning with all that CSSC represents as an organisation.

"We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with DAFC for many years to come."

The Press have approached DAFC for further comment on Rosyth FC's statement.