PARS star Matty Todd has hailed a change in attitude towards mental health within a dressing room environment since becoming a first-team player.

The midfielder, who came through the ranks of the Fife Elite Football Academy before signing with his boyhood favourites, has applauded the support network on offer across the club that is available for anyone who may be struggling.

Former Dunfermline High School pupil Todd, who has been an ever-present for Athletic this season, was speaking to the SPFL Trust Football Powered Podcast ahead of their scheduled match with Celtic B in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Although the third round tie was postponed, and rearranged for next month due to international call-ups, the 21-year-old discussed the support available at KDM Group East End Park for any player needing to open up, or who, like himself, is making the transition from academy to first team football.

"The environment at Dunfermline is actually pretty good," he explained.

"We've actually got a mental health officer (Eddie Martin). You can go and speak to him whenever you want, there's senior boys that you can speak to, like big Kyle Benedictus. He's brilliant with everybody.

"There's others around the place, and even the manager; you can go and speak to him if there's something up.

"Everyone at the club's connected and it's great to see that, if you're ever struggling with your mental health, that you can open up and speak to somebody easily about it.

"I've personally not spoken to Eddie but he's spoken to us as a group, and just said that if you've ever got anything up, just give me a ring and I'll be there to speak to you. The transition from academy football to first-team football's massive, and it's hard, because you're training every day; you're dealing with men; you're not playing against boys the same age as you any more. You just need to transition quick.

"I think most of the young lads that come in at Dunfermline do, and they do it well, but there could be a few that are struggling. They've always got somebody to talk to at Dunfermline, and it's brilliant to see.

"Since I've come in, there's a lot that's changed.

"Eddie's doing a lot just now within the community at Dunfermline, and even inside with the players.

"There probably is a lot more to be done. A lot more clubs could get on it and help the younger players that are coming through and starting to play men's football, to help them if they're ever struggling."

On the pitch, meanwhile, things have been going well for Todd and his Pars pals, who are the only unbeaten team in the SPFL, and sit top of League One.

They've claimed 15 points from seven games – three of which were the result of his winner against Alloa Athletic on the opening day – and he expressed his determination to bring success to the club's supporters.

When asked how important the club is to the community, Todd replied: "It's massive.

"You see it throughout the streets. Even on a match day, the fans that turn out and support the team, it's massive what the club means to people in the town.

"If we bring success to the fans, more will turn out, and that's what we're hoping to do this season."

Despite their SPFL Trust Trophy campaign being delayed, Todd has fond memories of the competition, which handed him his top-team debut in 2018.

"My first game for Dunfermline actually came in this cup competition; we played Inverness away," he added.

"It's just a great opportunity for boys to go and test themselves against other quality teams. Back then, when we played Inverness, they had a quality team at the high end of the Championship and we actually put out a young side.

"It's a great opportunity for younger players to test themselves against other boys in the same league, in the league above, or even the teams from other countries (Welsh and Northern Irish teams, who are in the tournament).

"You want to have a good cup run, whether it be the Trust Trophy, the Scottish Cup or whatever cup it's in.

"We want to have a good run and it all starts against Celtic."