PARS boss James McPake has insisted that hard work has been the key ingredient behind the club's stunning title success.

He said that providing a "clean slate" following last season's relegation, and hoping that the players believed in himself and his coaching team's work, has helped lay the foundations that has allowed them to win League One.

READ MORE: Pars wrap up League One title with Queens rout

Yesterday was a day of celebration at KDM Group East End Park as Dunfermline, needing a win over Queen of the South to wrap up the championship, did so in style with a 5-0 victory.

A Craig Wighton brace, as well as goals from Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Matty Todd and Kevin O'Hara, handed the Pars their biggest league win of the season to send a near-6,000 strong crowd into party mode.

Dunfermline Press:

When he took over last summer after the departure of John Hughes, McPake faced the task of taking the club back on an upward trajectory and, when asked how tough it was to lift everyone associated with Athletic, he said: "Probably the answer everyone thinks I'm going to say is it was really tough, we had to do a lot of work to lift them, but we didn't.

"It was really important, and I'm not just saying it because Dave (Mackay, his assistant) is standing here, but the club were very quick to act on that and get Dave out of Dundee. That was pivotal in what we were trying to do, and the players came in, and I'd love to sound like a genius and say we did this, we did that, to turn their confidence around, but we just worked hard. It's as simple as that.

"I genuinely do mean that. We got them in, we worked hard, it was a clean slate for everyone.

"Obviously we lost some players; I think it was six or seven that went from the team that got relegated, maybe more, but I made six or seven phone calls.

"We got that. I knew a lot of the players, they were a good group, and we believe in what we do as a coaching staff or a management team.

"We believe in what we do. You hope, it's probably that - you hope the players believe in what you do and follow what you're doing.

"I think, on the other side of that, if they don't do it, then we'd have moved them on anyway. We were very lucky with the group we got. We added some key additions in Kyle Benedictus, Chris Hamilton, and then some loan players that came in.

"That's been pretty easy. Then, what follows that, is the wins, which builds confidence, breeds confidence."

Dunfermline Press:

From the early stages of the season, momentum has been with the Pars, who have lost only one of 33 league games so far, and are unbeaten in their last 21.

Skipper Benedictus, who arrived from Raith Rovers, has played a crucial role, and commented: "I don't want to speak about last season, obviously, but I also think it was hard, especially for the boys that were here last year.

"I think I said to them before the game; let that motivate you. Remember last season, playing against Queen's Park (in the play-offs), go out there, and how times can change in football.

READ MORE: 'I'll treasure title win forever' says Pars skipper Kyle

"You need to treasure these moments. Not a lot of people can win things in their careers, and every single one of them deserves what's coming their way.

"We're delighted for the fans as well. They've came out in their numbers all season and there's been a few times I've said how thankful we are to them.

"Thousands came here again today and, to see that performance that the boys have put on, because it's a pressure situation, as the boys have known if they win, they win the league.

"To come out and beat a team, let's make no bones about it, they were six unbeaten, and we were the last team to beat them, so to come out and put in a performance like that, it just shows you how much credit I've got to give all these boys.

"Every one of them deserves it.

"There's that many records I think the boys have broken, I've actually forgot myself!

"Another clean sheet as well; I don't think I've ever been part of a team that's got so many clean sheets.

"That starts from the front. I think that work that Wighty puts in, Lewis McCann, Matty Todd - you can see the work they put in.

"It started from the first day we came in in pre-season. The gaffer was very big on it, about working hard, and if we work harder than teams, they won't be able to live with you. I think we've done that all season.

"To put it all together, come out and put in a performance like that, I think it was truly justified."