STEVIE CRAWFORD has admitted walking away from East End was not an easy decision but did so as he felt burnt out.

On Tuesday, the Pars announced the shock news that the 47-year-old had resigned from his post as head coach, after two-and-a-half years in the role.

Crawford, who had two spells with the club as a player, returned to Athletic in the summer of 2018 under the management of Allan Johnston, following first-team coach John Potter’s departure to Sunderland.

He was handed the reigns on a permanent rolling contract midway through that campaign following Johnston’s departure and, after seventh- and sixth-place finishes, guided them into the Premiership play-offs this term after finishing fourth.

Their top-flight hopes were ended in the quarter-finals by derby rivals Raith Rovers and, following that defeat, Crawford had stated his desire to improve next season, but that he would also take a few days to gather his thoughts.

Now, after holding talks with chairman Ross McArthur last Wednesday, and then taking more time to speak to his family, Crawford informed the club of his decision on Monday.

Speaking to Press Sport about his reasons for leaving the club, he explained: “I’m absolutely beat. I just have nothing left in the tank and I’m not embarrassed to say that.

“It’s been 24/7 for my 28 months and, even before that, for the short spell I was reserve manager. But those are the demands I put on myself.

“I reviewed the season in the early part of last week following the Raith Rovers game, then I spoke to Ross on Wednesday and took another three or four days and spent a little more time with my family.

“I started to look at my own situation and say, ‘I’m going to ask a player or other member of staff to give 100 per cent moving forward – and I’m not convinced I’ve got 100 per cent left myself.

“A lot of thought went in to three or four days and I asked to speak to Ross on Monday morning. I had come to a decision and it was incredibly hard to say the words that I said to Ross.

“It feels like burnout, honestly. I’m not ashamed to say that is the case because I believe that shows the dedication I had to the job. I did wonder whether it was worth trying to grind it out; trying to get over this feeling.

“However, that is not fair to the club.

“Like everything, football goes on and if I’m not able to step up to the mark and raise levels and push boundaries, then how can I ask that from others? That’s not right.

“It’s not a decision I came to lightly, but I feel it’s the right one.”

When asked if things might have been different had the Pars progressed in the play-offs, Crawford, who said he still wanted to coach or manage in the future, replied: “It’s a fair question. I suppose I’ll never know. I never envisaged it. When I spoke to Ross it wasn’t as if I could pinpoint a part of the season where I felt ‘I’m tired now’.

“It’s come after the event. You’re that caught up in trying to do what’s right for the club and what’s right for the players and everything about the place.

“I don’t say this lightly, but it has been an honour to manage Dunfermline as a football club, and one that I’ll always be grateful for.

“I just want to thank everybody again that supported me and helped me through that.”