JAMES MCPAKE has admitted that confirming Dunfermline's Championship status for next season will provide a boost in recruitment plans for the summer.

Athletic's loss at Airdrieonians on Saturday has left them nine points outside of the promotion play-offs, with just nine left to play for, and with an inferior goal difference.

Whilst the prospect of pipping either the Diamonds, who sit fourth, or Partick Thistle, who are third on goal difference, seems unlikely, the Pars still have work to do to ensure they can't finish in the relegation play-off spot.

Queen's Park, who visit KDM Group East End Park this weekend, sit ninth and are six points behind, and a victory for McPake's men will mean that they cannot be caught by the Spiders.

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In this week's Press Sport, McPake said that discussions over squad strengthening for next term had already begun, and has noted that ensuring the club will be, at least, in the Championship would help that process.

"When you know what league you are in, you are then at an even base with most teams," he said.

"I know when I speak of people like Lee Ashcroft and Zak Rudden (who Pars were interested in signing on loan earlier this season), you can see for footballing reasons why they would choose to go to Raith.

"Yes, teams will have play-offs, but we are trying to do our business as best we can at the minute. It would certainly help knowing what division we are in, knowing that at least we are going to be in the Championship.

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"I will be brutally honest. When you are speaking to those players at the point when we were ninth, if you are him looking at that, or at a team that is first or second in the league, comparing with a team that is ninth, that will turn your eye to that team thinking you can go play there and win a title.

"We become level with most teams if we secure a place in this division. That's the aim that we set at the start of the season with everyone, that was to get to get to 40 points.

"We have done that but 40 points is probably not looking to be enough this season. We need a bit more but when I say the aim, we were never going to be delighted by just surviving.

"We wanted to progress and I believe that we have progressed in certain aspects. Injuries have been a problem but that’s something to look at over the summer and see what can be done better in that sense.

"I think we have progressed but we need to make sure that we are in this division next season."