ATHLETIC have made their first signing of the close season by raiding rivals Raith Rovers for captain Kyle Benedictus.

The 30-year-old, who had been with the Kirkcaldy outfit since 2015, has penned a two-year deal as new boss, James McPake, makes his first addition since taking over from John Hughes.

Benedictus, who played 41 games in all competitions last season for a Rovers side that finished fifth in the Championship, began his senior career with hometown club Dundee.

After making his debut in 2008, aged just 16, he spent seven years with the Dark Blues, helping them win promotion to the top flight in 2011/12, and 2013/14.

His spell at Dens Park, which included stints on loan at Montrose and Alloa Athletic, came to an end in 2015 when he signed for Raith, quickly establishing himself as a regular at the heart of their defence.

Benedictus has made more than 200 appearances for Dunfermline's local rivals but, with his contract at an end, he has elected to make the short move west along the A92.

His arrival comes as McPake begins a rebuild of the Pars squad following their relegation to League One, which came after a loss to promoted Queen's Park in the Championship play-off semi-finals.

After Hughes stood down from his position, Dunfermline swooped for McPake, who had been out of work since February after leaving Dundee.

Loan players Jakub Stolarczyk (Leicester City), Liam Polworth (Kilmarnock), Efe Ambrose (St Johnstone), Bobby Kamwa (Leeds United), and Coll Donaldson (Ross County, but who has signed for Falkirk after the expiry of his deal with his parent club), have all departed since McPake took over.

Dom Thomas, who has joined Queen's Park after his contract came to an end, has also left, while out-of-contract players Dan Pybus, Steven Lawless, Ryan Dow, Lewis Martin, Reece Cole and Leon Jones were all released.

Benedictus, who Press Sport understands had offers from elsewhere, including in the Championship, follows a well-trodden path from Pratt Street to Halbeath Road in recent times, with Euan Murray - who went on to captain Dunfermline - and Scotland star Kevin Nisbet the last players to make the move in the summer of 2019.

We will have more from Benedictus, and McPake, in Thursday's Press Sport.