JOE CHALMERS has said that the Athletic dressing room is “as good a group” that he has encountered after signing a new contract.

Last week, the 29-year-old put pen to paper on an extension to his existing deal, which will keep him at KDM Group East End Park until the summer of 2025.

Manager James McPake revealed that while the player had a clause in his contract that triggered fresh terms after playing a certain number of games, he would have sought to keep the former Ayr United man regardless.

McPake praised his “footballing brain” and “the way he conducts himself”, and Chalmers, an ever-present for the Pars so far this season, didn’t need much persuasion to commit himself to the club.

“I’m really enjoying being here, from the minute I came in,” he said.

“I look forward to getting out of my bed and coming in every morning. It’s a good place to be, it’s a good group of boys, and a manager I’m really enjoying working under.

“When I got the chance to extend it, I didn’t need to think much about it, and it was tied up pretty quickly, so I’m delighted.

“It’s been good to get that run of games and a bit of consistency. I think it’s helped me, and I’m just really enjoying it.

“Even, when I came in last season, it wasn’t the best of times but, I’ve said before, I still was really happy with the decision I made to come here, just with the club, the facilities and everything we’ve got.

“Even though it didn’t work out well (with relegation), I was still glad that I came, was still enjoying being at Dunfermline and playing last season but, obviously, the results didn’t match.

“Obviously the main thing is on the park but, off the park, it’s as good a group of boys I’ve been involved in, in terms of the way everybody gets on, the way everybody wants to get better and pull in the one direction.

“I feel as if everybody at the club’s pulling in the one direction, so I think that’s what’s made a big difference to things on the park, but I think that togetherness off the park has helped on it.”

That togetherness has helped take Dunfermline to the top of League One, where they hold a five point lead over rivals Falkirk, heading in to this weekend’s match at Airdrieonians.

With just one defeat in 22 league matches so far, Chalmers and his team-mates have found different ways to pick up points, which the midfielder agreed is a tick in the box for a side with promotion aspirations.

“I think it is a mindset,” he continued.

“Obviously, it comes from the manager. We’re a fit group, we cover a lot of ground in games, and by running, and never give up.

“Even when we’re not at our best, we keep fighting, and I think that’s gained us quite a lot of points this season.

“At the end of the season, you never know, those points could be the difference.”

McPake commented: “There was a clause in it (Chalmers’ contract) in terms of the amount of games but, regardless of that, he has been a really good player for us.

“He’s great to work with, is good about the place, and I’m delighted that he is going to be here.

“In most games, he covers the most ground. He has a really good footballing brain, he takes instructions really well, and is helpful to have on the pitch, particularly when you are changing tactics.

“He has played in the Premiership and Championship. His performance level in training every day (is high) and he is one of those leaders by example where he just conducts himself properly. He runs as much as he can, he takes care of the ball, he does everything that you ask of him – and he is very tactically astute as well.

“When you ask him to do a role, which we have seen a couple of times this season – it might be more of a defensive role – he quite easily flips to going forward as well and playing that way.

“It is a young squad that we have got, so having someone with his experience in it definitely helps. The way that he has turned around from last season, he has been really important in changing the mindset of the football club in the way he performs, the way he trains and the way he plays.

“Above all else he is a really good guy but he is a really good footballer as well.”

McPake added: “I think he will be enjoying the fact that he is such a key figure in the way we train, the way we play and, being one of the senior ones, you speak to him a lot on and off the training pitch. He has just got a right good way about him.

“He has that quiet nice guy look about him but he has that side to him where he demands standards but he does it in the right way. He has been really important to myself and Dave (Mackay) since we came in the door.

“We are delighted that he is going to be here and it is a good one for us.”