DUNFERMLINE knocked back a bid for full back Josh Edwards during the January transfer window which was described as "really important" by their manager.

Prior to Saturday's home defeat by Greenock Morton, James McPake confirmed that an offer had been received for the 23-year-old, and rejected.

Edwards, who has made 27 appearances this season, signed a contract extension with the Pars last January, keeping him at the club until the end of the current campaign.

In December, Press Sport reported that McPake revealed Athletic had "an option in our favour" to extend his deal, which they were keen to take up, but no agreement, as yet, has been signed.

Dunfermline Press:

"Keeping Josh was very important, for what he does in the team," McPake commented.

"He could get injured, that's just the way football is, but a player of his profile is really hard to find.

"And the way he plays that left wing / left wing back role, I don't see many like that out there. It was very important we kept him. He's performing at a really high level.

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"I've said to him, the moves will come for him. If he keeps doing what he's doing for us, he'll go and have a fantastic career because he's doing everything right. He's training right, he's working right and he's looking after himself right.

"He'll deserve whatever comes for him in football, but we're delighted to keep him.

"That's a massive one, as much as the new signings and the injuries coming back, keeping a hold of players like Josh - the nucleus of what we're trying to do here and he's massively important in that."

McPake added: "We know how important he is, the club were great with that - David [Cook], the board. It was quite a simple decision for them that regardless - obviously, if a daft bid comes in then of course it gets looked at. By daft, I mean a high bid.

"For what Josh is worth to us and what he can do, the club knocked that back. It shows real intent from them as well."

Edwards was brought to Dunfermline in the summer of 2019 from Airdrieonians by then head coach, Stevie Crawford, and has made 157 appearances for the club.