ATHLETIC will use the disappointment of failing to achieve promotion through the play-offs to target next season's Championship title.

That's the verdict of Dom Thomas, who was quick to lay out his aim for the new campaign after his side were eliminated in the Premiership play-off quarter-final by derby rivals Raith Rovers.

The winger felt the Pars had enough chances in both legs to progress in the tie, which was settled in the Kirkcaldy club's favour by Lewis Vaughan and Gozie Ugwu in the second half on Saturday, and admitted not making it through to face Dundee was tough to take.

It brought an up-and-down season – which saw them sit no lower than second by mid-January, fall to fifth by the end of March and then wrap up a play-off spot with a game to spare – to a conclusion earlier than Dunfermline wanted.

But former Kilmarnock star Thomas, 25, insists that it can be the catalyst for a challenge at the top of a division that looks set to be intriguingly competitive next term.

"Obviously, I think the aim for everybody was to get the play-offs and see how we go, and next season now we've got to go one step higher and try and go for the league," he told Press Sport.

"It's something we've spoken about. We're obviously gutted but we've got to use this, use the disappointment to spur us on next season and go one step further.

"For me personally, and for the majority of the boys and the staff, we want to go and win the league. If we just fall short of that, it might put us in second, which is a step closer in the play-offs, but I think coming in next season – we'll obviously have our time off in the summer and dust ourselves down, and boys will return to their loan clubs and move on – we need to hit the ground running again like we did this season.

"We've got good players signed up in the majority of the team. We can use this year as experience; we've got to the play-offs, I don't think many of the boys have played in the play-offs, and we've got a young squad with a bit of experience.

"We'll use this season to get us going next season again. Hopefully, we recruit well again, like we did this year, we build a new team and we go again for next season."

Thomas continued: "Probably, at the start of the season, we set our goals to be in the play-offs, and we hit those goals, although there was a few bumps along the way.

"We started flying, hit a bit of a bad spell and then we sorted it out and got ourselves in the play-offs. For me personally, I've loved every minute of this season – I feel I've become a better player playing every week and being a big part of the team, and that's thanks to the coaches and the players in the team.

"Again, we want to go one step further next year, and that's not just me – that's the coaches, the staff and everybody at the club.

"I felt over the two legs we did really well, especially the first leg and the first 45 (minutes). We had enough chances to win the tie but that's football. Sometimes you don't get the breaks and sometimes you do, and I think that's what's happened over the two legs.

"It's a sore one to take but I think the boys gave everything over the two legs as they have done all season. It's been a long, hard and a different season, but credit to the boys; they went all the way.

"We'd good times, we had hard times and we stuck together. I think that's what got us the play-offs in the end but we just couldn't go over that last hurdle."

Thomas also had a final word for the club's supporters, who he admitted had been missed throughout the campaign by the players.

"When I had my first spell at Dunfermline, the fans were a massive part of it," he added.

"You see the numbers they come out in when you're doing well and I'm sure they would've been out backing us this year.

"It maybe just gives you that wee bit extra or gets you that decision you don't get. It's weird not playing in front of fans and you actually get used to it for the wrong reasons.

"Hopefully, by next season, we can get the fans back in in their numbers, give them something to come out and watch, and entertain them."