JAMES MCPAKE has been appointed as the new manager of Dunfermline Athletic.

The 37-year-old, who left Dundee last season, will succeed John Hughes after Pars chiefs identified him as the man to lead them into League One next term.

McPake, who has signed a contract until the summer of 2024, arrives at East End having departed Dens Park in February, having led the Dark Blues to the Premiership in May last year.

Less than a week after Hughes left the club following their relegation to League One, Athletic said that McPake "fits the bill very well" after what they said was a "thorough interview and recruitment process".

Speaking to the Pars' website, McPake said: "I'm delighted to have been appointed manager at such a prestigious club within Scottish football.

"It's been a challenging year for the club but I am excited and optimistic about how we can build the club up and get it moving in the right direction from League One.

"Over the years, on the pitch and in the opposition dugout, I've experienced the strong backing from the stands.

"The supporters are going to play a key role in this rebuild and its vital that we are all pulling in the same direction for the start of the season."

McPake will be the first manager to lead Dunfermline in the third tier since Allan Johnston won the title in his first season in charge in 2015/16.

Following a player career that included spells with Livingston, Coventry City, Hibernian and Dundee, it was with the latter that the centre back began his coaching career, initially within their academy.

After the departure of Jim McIntyre - another former Athletic boss - in May 2019, McPake was appointed Dundee manager on a permanent basis having initially being placed in caretaker charge.

In the 2020/21 campaign, he was named as the Championship Manager of the Year after leading the Dees into the top flight through the play-offs, defeating Kilmarnock in the final, but was dismissed in February this year.

McPake left Dundee in 11th place, and in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, but the Tayside club, under the charge of his replacement, Mark McGhee, failed to progress further in the cup and finished bottom of the Premiership to immediately return to the Championship.

Pars chief executive, David Cook, added: "The board are delighted to announce James as our new first team manager.

"We had a clear idea of what we were looking for in our new manager and we feel James fits the bill very well.

"Despite his young years, he has more than 100 games under his belt culminating in a promotion to the Premiership with Dundee. In addition to this, he has good experience in developing young players and integrating academy players in to the first team squad.

"League One is a clear reset moment for the club and from our conversations with James, it is clear we share the same drive and ambition to help build the club up.

"Short term that means helping get that winning feeling back at the club."

Press Sport will have a full, exclusive interview with McPake, and Cook, in Thursday's edition of the Press.