ATHLETIC duo James McPake and Kyle Benedictus have capped their title-winning season by scooping a pair of season accolades.

As we revealed yesterday, captain Benedictus has been named as the cinch SPFL LEague One Player of the Season, and manager McPake has now received the Glen's Vodka SPFL League One Manager of the Season prize.

The pair have been presented with the prizes following a stunning League One success, in which the Pars topped the table by 14 points, and set several new club records along the way.

Those included new bests for the number of clean sheets kept, the fewest goals conceded at home, away and in total, the fewest defeats – one – in a league season, and the total number of points gained, with Dunfermline finishing on 81.

Their 23 wins from 36 matches saw them bounce back to the Championship at the first time of asking, following last season’s relegation, in McPake’s first season in charge.

The 38-year-old former Dundee boss, who also picked up his third Manager of the Month this season for April at the weekend, said: “I know you hear a lot of managers saying it, but you need the right staff, the right players and the entire football club pulling in the one direction.

“There’s a whole set of people working behind the scenes that maybe go unnoticed, but I’m delighted for everyone involved with this club who has backed myself, my staff and players. The award will join the others we’ve won this year on my mum’s mantlepiece.

“From 24th May last year, it’s been non-stop; meeting the board, the footballing staff, signing players then into the footballing season. I don’t think it could have gone any better, to comfortably win a very competitive League One.

“Once again I’m just thankful for everyone at Dunfermline Athletic for their support.”

He added: "Normally, when you get this award, you've had a successful season and, again, it's not an old cliche, but it's the truth - the award's for everyone at the football club. There's no way that that trophy would be sitting there, or the manager of the season award would be at our football club, hadn't it been for the tireless work of everyone at this football club.

"I'm not going to name everyone, because I'll miss someone out, but from the groundstaff to the media team, the medical department, Margaret up there, to the players, and then the footballing staff that work with me.

"Each and every one of them have played a huge part in the success that this club have had this season. Then, lastly, but not least, the owners and the board, who brought me to the football club and who've backed me at the football club.

"A thank you to all of them, but I genuinely really do mean that the award's for everyone at the football club."

Benedictus, meanwhile, picks up the player of the season prize after becoming a bedrock of the side since joining from Raith Rovers last summer.

Dunfermline Press:

The 31-year-old, who missed just one league game - the final home match with Clyde, after which he collected the League One trophy, having been red-carded the previous week - was also handed the captain’s armband.

His leadership and defensive qualities have not only been crucial to Athletic’s success, but have been recognised by his peers, having been nominated for the PFA Scotland League One Player of the Year award.

Team-mate, Matty Todd, has also been shortlisted, alongside Airdrieonians’ Calum Gallagher, and Queen of the South’s Ruari Paton, and Benedictus said: “Personally, obviously, it’s always nice from your fellow peers to be nominated, myself and Matty.

“I’ve said a few times this week that any one of those boys could be up there with what the boys have done this season. It’s been a team effort that’s got us so much success. There’s no individuality out there, it’s all about the team, and, on a personal note, I’m obviously delighted for myself, and the family are delighted as well.

“I probably couldn’t have asked for much more throughout the season towards the end.”