Dunfermline: James McPake discusses Deniz Mehmet's new deal

Yesterday (Monday), the 30-year-old put pen to paper on a new three-year deal, ensuring that he will remain at KDM Group East End Park until the summer of 2026.

Mehmet, who joined the Pars in the summer of 2021, was out-of-contract this summer, said that there was 'no doubt' he would agree fresh terms, and his boss said he was "over the moon" to secure his signature.

In a record-breaking season, Dunfermline kept 21 clean sheets in League One - and 24 overall - on their way to winning the title by 14 points, and securing an instant return to the Championship.

Mehmet, who played in all-but-one competitive game, which was a 2-1 win over Celtic 'B' in the SPFL Trust Trophy, set a new club record for shut-outs recorded in a single season by a goalkeeper, surpassing Ian Westwater's previous best from 1985/86.

Deniz Mehmet's fine form in goal helped Athletic to the League One title. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Dunfermline also conceded just 21 goals in 36 games, and that - plus the 10 lost at home, and 11 on the road - are all also new club bests.

Speaking to Press Sport, McPake acknowledged that his number one had come up with some big moments throughout the campaign, and commented: "That's one of the things that I think, for me, the respect and admiration I've got for him is down to, because a lot of games we were maybe winning 1-0, or we were up in games, and he wasn't getting an awful lot to do.

"You see that in the teams that go on and have a bit of success; their goalkeeper isn't worked a lot. There's been a lot of games where Deniz hasn't been worked and, then, all of a sudden, he pulls off a big stop that wins us the game, or keeps us in the game, like the Airdrie one down there, the 1-1.

READ MORE: 'There was never any doubt': Pars star signs new deal

"I think he had three or four that day that were fantastic saves. You look at the fact we go down to nine men, we hang on, and you come away with a lot of credit, but you also need your goalkeeper to pull off some big saves, and he does that on a regular basis."

McPake continued: "He's got a trait in him that I really like in a goalkeeper - he plays without emotion. He's very clear in his head. It's not to say he's not an emotional person, or he doesn't get excited, but it's just the way he calms the full team down.

"You see that he comes for crosses in the 88th, 89th minute, when you're winning 1-0, and that's because he is so clear of mind at the time that he can go and do that.

"His decision making's been excellent all season, so he's one of the ones we were very keen to get done.

"He's a really important player, an important person in the dressing room, and his record this season speaks for itself.

"He'll be desperate to kick on again."