PARS boss James McPake reckons having their own training ground will be a game-changer and said they're almost ready to move in.

Dunfermline bought the former Rosyth Civil Service Club on Castle Road and it will accommodate the first-team squad, the new youth academy and the Pars Foundation – the charity that runs the club's community programme.

McPake said that having their own base was one of the attractions in taking on the manager's job and, although pre-season training began at McKane Park, the new facility is almost ready.

He said: "It's coming on. I saw it when I first came, one pitch is looking really good and the other pitch is going to be really good.

"We're at McKane at the minute. It's good, the facilities down there are good and the pitches were great today.

"It's great from them, that they're allowing us to do that, but I don't see it as a negative at all.

"We want to get this training ground right so that when we are ready to go there it's all in place."

He added: "The club is investing a lot of money. We've got our own academy again which is great. And it's great for me as I want academy players on that pitch.

"It's all looking good. The academy will be there, we'll be there. You think of the clubs in this country that have their own training ground, there's not many.

"If we get that right, it's going to help this club in terms of developing players, attracting players and working with players so I'm looking forward to it."

The training ground will have two full-size grass pitches, a 3G astroturf pitch which is set to be laid in August, as well as warm-up and goalkeeper areas, fencing and floodlights, an education and analysis auditorium, changing rooms and showers, offices and meeting rooms; a kit room, laundry and boot room; an indoor sports hall, kitchen and an eating and rest area.

The club's strength and conditioning gym, which is currently located at East End Park, will also be moved to Rosyth.

McPake admitted: "That was a big draw of this club. When I saw it I thought, 'Wow, if we get this right ...'.

"But we need to give the groundstaff time to get it right.

"I hadn't been for two weeks and when I went back the development of the training ground is fantastic so we're getting there."

Chairman and CEO David Cook commented: “Like a lot of construction and development projects happening right now, we`re a little bit behind where we hoped to be with Rosyth.

"As a result, short-term, we felt it prudent to stick to a surface we know well at McKane Park.

"I`d like to thank the committee at McKane for allowing us to use their facilities in the short-term.

"As we continue to enhance the pitches at Rosyth, our intention is for the academy to start their pre-season from our new base in July.”