ATHLETIC boss James McPake has expressed his delight that "top class" Aaron Comrie has signed a new deal to remain with the League One champions.

The 26-year-old, whose contract had been due to expire this summer, yesterday signed a two-year extension with the club, keeping him at KDM Group East End Park until the summer of 2025.

Dunfermline Press: Aaron Comrie has signed a new two-year deal with Dunfermline.Aaron Comrie has signed a new two-year deal with Dunfermline. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Comrie, who was signed from St Johnstone in the summer of 2019, was a regular for McPake in Dunfermline's march to the title, featuring in 42 of their competitive matches.

The Pars manager, who has been shortlisted for the Scottish Football Writers' Association Manager of the Year award after guiding the team to the title in a record-breaking season, was delighted to have Comrie sign a new deal - and believes he is a player who flies "under the radar".

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"Delighted," was McPake's initial reaction to the full back's contract renewal.

"He's very consistent. You know what you're getting, and that's not just in a game. Every single day in training, he sets a standard for himself, and for the rest of the team.

"He's just a great person to work with. He's shown quality over this season, and he's a player I've known for a while as well, so I'm really delighted he's going to be here for the next couple of years."

Comrie was a key part of a Dunfermline backline that kept 21 League One shut-outs - and 24 across all competitions - and conceded just 21 goals in 36 games.

Whilst acknowledging that they will face sterner tests next season when they return to the Championship, McPake continued: "It certainly will, we know that, but, like I say, it's another one tied down that's been part of a successful defence, and a very decent Dunfermline team in the Championship in the past as well.

"That's when I first did see him and, I know I keep saying this about every player, or a lot of them anyway, but Aaron's a player that we did look at when we were at Dundee as well. That's the truth.

"It's now, I think when you get to work with him, you just appreciate just how consistent he is, and that's not easy. That's not saying that's all he is either. He's not just consistent, he's one of those players in my opinion that, at times, a bit like Dave Mackay, can go a bit under the radar.

"But it's when you work with them, or play beside them, or you go and watch them time after time, you see what they bring to the team and, as a person, he's top class."