ATHLETIC is a “great place to be” and a club that is growing in spirit and ambition according to their manager.

James McPake has hailed the atmosphere in and around the club as he and his players continue to push for promotion and an immediate return to the Championship following last term’s relegation.

Since taking charge in the summer, the former Dundee manager has led the Pars to the top of League One, where they hold a five point lead over Falkirk, who visit KDM Group East End Park on Tuesday, ahead of this Saturday’s fixtures.

With a record of only one loss in 25 league games, Dunfermline have shown that they have skill to get results, and a resilience to match.

In the recent win at Airdrieonians, when the Pars fought back from three goals down to win 4-3, the bond within the squad was emphasised by the sight of Chris Hamilton and Joe Chalmers, both substituted after half an hour, celebrating as wildly as the rest of their team-mates at time-up.

“That’s the togetherness that the players deserve most of the credit for, because they’re the ones that are doing it,” McPake said.

“I have been a player, I know how important it is, and how desperate you are to play every game, but we’ve got a great group of boys and a great team spirit.

“Yeah, they’re disappointed when they either come off or they don’t play, because you would want that, but they’re pushing each other and they’ve all got a huge part to play. They’ve all played a huge part so far.

“To be a successful club I think you need that. It stems from even, every day, you see whoever it is in the building, everybody’s positive and trying to do the best for Dunfermline Athletic Football Club.

“That’s what we’re doing it for, it is for the football club, and we’re backed by a great support that push us and they feel the highs and lows with us.

“It’s a great place to be, it’s a great club to be involved at, and everybody’s doing that at the minute and playing their part, whether it’s staff, players, or anyone who’s in and around.

“I’ll miss people out. It’s not intentional, but everyone’s doing such a fantastic job that it’s building a lot of club spirit, team spirit, whatever you want to define it is, and that was a big thing. That’s what impressed me so much with David (Cook, chairman and CEO), Thomas (Meggle, sporting director) and Nick (Teller, director) when I met them the first time, what they were trying to build as a football club.

“That’s starting to grow and we need to continue to do that.”

On the togetherness at the club, and its importance, McPake added: “It’s something we touched on first when we first came in, just how important everyone is. That’s not just the players; that goes to Marie that provides the food, Mo, Sammi, who do the kit for us, all the way through to every single person in the building, the medical department, the sports science department, and then obviously the board, who have been very supportive of me and Dave as well.”