EAST FIFE have confirmed that they will have a new home and away playing kit for the coming season.

Following an agreement with manufacturer Diadora, the team will be playing in newly-designed home strips featuring the traditional black and gold colours, with a red and white away kit.

The Methil club decided to clarify the situation after speculation among supporters that only a new away kit would be unveiled this summer, amid rumours that last season’s home strip would again have to be used this year due to sponsorship issues.

A statement on the club’s website, which features sketches of the new design, confirmed, “We have been extremely fortunate in securing a very lucrative contract with Diadora.

“This has enabled us also to obtain access to all of the Scotland playing kit and leisurewear which we intend to stock in the club shop.”

The club recently challenged supporters to design a new home kit but have confirmed that the winning design will not be available until the end of the 2007/8 season at the earliest.

Due to the length of time that negotiations with Diadora took, the club were unable to register the winning design with the Scottish Football League in time.

However, the winning design is currently being manufactured and will be available from April 2008.

That being the case, this season’s home kit will be used for one season only, while the new away strip will be used for the next two campaigns.

Both will be on sale in the club’s shop at Bayview at the beginning of July.