JOHN HUGHES has left his position as manager of Dunfermline.

In the last few moments, the club have announced that the 57-year-old has departed East End following the team's relegation to League One.

In a statement, the club said: "Dunfermline Athletic Football Club would like to advise that first team manager, John Hughes, has intimated to the DAFC Board his wish to stand down from his position.

"John joined our club in late 2021, in very difficult circumstances and the DAFC Board would like to thank him for his hard work and endeavours over the last few months and wish him and his family every success in the future."

The search for Hughes' successor is now underway, and chief executive, David Cook, stated: "Following the disappointing end to the season, we updated supporters on certain off-field changes and footballing reviews happening at the club.

"Over the past week, we have seen Steven Whittaker and John Hughes both leave the club.

"Our search for a new manager is well underway and we will commence interviews with preferred candidates shortly.

"Our aim is to target a first team coaching staff with fresh energy, drive and enthusiasm to help take the club forward in League One.

"We know supporters are eager for information around the first team and we understand this. As soon as we are able to update supporters further, we shall.

"Thanks for your patience at this moment."

Last week, Dunfermline issued a statement apologising for the team's relegation, with the club accepting "ultimate responsibility" for their drop into League One.

A dismal season at East End saw them finish ninth, and enter the Championship play-offs, where they were beaten by Queen's Park - who went on to win promotion - at the semi-final stage.

That meant third tier football for the first time in six years, and sections of the club's supporters aired their frustrations at the end of the second leg loss to the Spiders.

Following that match, Hughes - who was under contract until next summer - expressed his desire to try and bring the club back to the Championship.

However, last week's statement, which also outlined changes within the boardroom, noted that Athletic's footballing departments and squad plans were "under review".

That has led to the departure of Hughes, which comes less than a week after first team coach, Steven Whittaker, left to join former team-mate, and close friend, Scott Brown at Fleetwood Town.

Hughes replaced Peter Grant, who himself had only arrived last summer following Stevie Crawford's resignation, in November, with Dunfermline winless and bottom of the Championship.

Whittaker and fellow coach, Greg Shields, steered the team to a 2-1 win at Inverness 24 hours after the former Falkirk, Hibernian, Inverness and Ross County manager's arrival, who won his first official game in charge a week later against Ayr United.

That lifted the Pars to sixth in the table but, despite registering five more league wins, they struggled to pull clear of the bottom two.

A win over Ayr in April moved them into eighth but defeats in their final two games condemned them to the play-offs, where they failed to beat the Spiders, who finished fourth in League One, to go down.

Hughes' replacement will be Dunfermline's fourth manager in three-and-a-half years.