ATHLETIC manager James McPake has said that telling three of his title-winning squad they would be leaving was “very, very difficult”.

Following the conclusion of their League One campaign, it was announced that forwards Nikolay Todorov and Kevin O’Hara, and defender, Kyle MacDonald, would be departing KDM Group East End Park when their contracts expire this summer.

Press Sport understands that discussions remain ongoing over the futures of full back, Aaron Comrie, and goalkeeper, Deniz Mehmet, with their deals also set to expire.

Mehmet, who set a new club record for clean sheets kept in a single season – he recorded 24 in all competitions, 21 of which were in the league – posted a cryptic social media message on Monday, in which he said it was a “pleasure to share the 22/23 season with so many brilliant people”, adding: “Winning the league, breaking club records and getting a place in the team of the year is all down to the efforts of everyone.

“Thank you all for a season to remember.”

Whilst it remains unclear whether he will be part of Dunfermline’s return to the Championship after one season away next term, Todorov, O’Hara and MacDonald will not be donning the black and white.

Bulgarian forward Todorov, 26, exits after two seasons with the Pars, having contributed 11 goals in all competitions this term, including a memorable winner at Airdrieonians in February, when they recovered from three goals down.


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O’Hara, 24, joined in the summer of 2020 on a three-year contract and, despite a season curtailed by injury, he netted three times, including against Queen of the South, on the day the title was won.

MacDonald, 23, scored twice in 53 appearances since joining from Airdrie in January 2021, and McPake, who wouldn’t be drawn on signing targets, exclusively told Press Sport that telling the trio they would not be staying was hard.

“Very very difficult, and I know it can be classed as easy to say, but I’ve been in this position before, where you’ve had to let players go,” he explained.

“I must admit, and Dave (Mackay, assistant manager) would say the same, that having those meetings, with those three, were as tough meetings as we’ve been involved in in football, just simply because they had done so well.

“I’m being completely honest – those three lads were excellent for us all season.

“Todorov, some really important goals, some match-winning goals, some really important games he played for the club. Kyle MacDonald was exceptional in a lot of games as well - you look at the game, in particular, at Falkirk where we won 1-0. I thought he was excellent, and then he played right back at the game at East End Park, where we beat Falkirk 2-0, so he was involved in a lot of big games.

“Kevin was really unfortunate with the injury. Kevin’s a player I did try and sign at Dundee, and the injury did hamper him, but he’s a player we really do like.

“Unfortunately, the way football is, at times you do need to make these decisions. That’s the role of a club, a manager, an assistant manager, that you’ve just got to make these decisions for what you might think is right.

“It might not always pan out that way, but he had to make decisions to freshen this squad up.

“We didn’t change too much last year, in terms of how many we signed, and we don’t plan on doing that this year either.

“We hope they go on and have another successful season, because they’ll not be short of offers, that’s for sure.”

Meanwhile, McPake has described his recognition in receiving the Glen’s Vodka SPFL League One Manager of the Season award, and being nominated for the PFA Scotland accolade, as “a recognition for the full football club”.

“It is an honour to get recognition, and get named alongside those types of managers, but it’s completely down to the work of the staff, the players and the board at our football club as well,” he added.

“It’s not just the right answer, or the answer that you’re taught to say, or you should be saying - it’s what I fully believe. Without the backing from the board, the work of the staff in the background, and then without those players, my name wouldn’t be mentioned for anything.”