ATHLETIC have been linked with two stalwarts of one of their manager's former clubs whilst the future of their out-of-contract players remains uncertain.

Speculation has credited James McPake with an interest in Hibernian pair Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson, who are both set to leave the Premiership club this summer.

McPake is a former team-mate of both players, having played for the Easter Road outfit between 2012 and 2014, and media reports have suggested he could be interested in bringing them to KDM Group East End Park.

Other clubs have also been linked with moves for both Hanlon and Stevenson, who have played more than 1,100 matches combined for the Hibees since coming through their academy.

Stevenson, who was born in Kirkcaldy, became their all-time record league appearance holder in February, as is the only player to have won both the Scottish Cup and League Cup with the Leith side, winning the latter in 2007.

Both he and Hanlon, named Hibs club captain in 2021, played in the 2016 Scottish Cup final, in which the men in green defeated Rangers to end a 114-year wait to lift the trophy.

After Dunfermline secured their Championship status for next season, following a draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle on the penultimate weekend of the campaign, McPake said that there would be a "lot of work to do" and that it is "going to be a big summer".

Whilst it remains to be seen as to who may arrive at East End in the coming weeks, it also yet to be confirmed whether those out-of-contract will be with the club next term.

Alex Jakubiak, who signed in September until the end of the season, midfielder Paul Allan, young full-back, Miller Fenton, and back-up goalkeeper, Max Little, are those whose deals expire this summer.

Former Dundee forward Jakubiak, 27, played 28 games for the Pars, scoring twice, whilst Allan, 24, also scored twice over 33 appearances.

Little, 21, played twice for the first team during the season - in an SPFL Trust Trophy tie at Dundee United, and as a substitute for Deniz Mehmet during the draw at Ayr United on the final day of the Championship season - whilst Fenton made three first team appearances.

Meanwhile, Dunfermline's on-loan players have all departed the club following the conclusion of the campaign.

St Johnstone's Chris Kane, Cardiff City pair Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Xavier Benjamin, Blackpool duo Owen Moffat and Bradley Holmes, Celtic's Ben Summers, and Livingston's Miles Welch-Hayes, were brought to the club on a temporary basis.

Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, Fagan-Walcott commented: "What a season it’s been.

"I just want to say a massive thank you to the fans, the coaching staff and my team-mates, it’s been an unforgettable experience. I wish the club nothing but the best for the future".

Welch-Hayes, whose parent club will join Dunfermline in the Championship following their relegation from the Premiership, added: "Want to say massive thank you to everyone at Dunfermline Athletic, from the staff to the fans and my team-mates. What a club! I wish you all the best for next season, I’m sure it will be a very successful one."