James McPake is set to be appointed manager of Dunfermline Athletic.
The 37-year-old held positive talks with East End Park chiefs in recent days and Courier Sport understands terms have been agreed with the Fifers.
Barring any unforeseen hitches, McPake will be officially confirmed as Pars boss in the next 24 hours, succeeding John Hughes at the helm.
He will be Dunfermline’s fourth permanent manager in 12 months.
Hughes stepped down last week after suffering a chastening playoff defeat against Queen’s Park, cementing relegation to League 1.
Vibrancy and youth
Meanwhile, McPake has been out of work since being dismissed by Dundee on February 16.
The Dens Park outfit were on a run of just one defeat in six games when McPake was shown the door, booking a place in the Scottish Cup quarter-final and defeating Hearts at Tynecastle in the process.
They were 11th in the Premiership, one point ahead of St Johnstone.
The Dark Blues went on to win once in their final 14 games under Mark McGhee and finish six points adrift of the Perth Saints at the bottom of the league.
Courier Sport understands Dunfermline chief executive David Cook and sporting director Thomas Meggle were impressed by McPake’s enthusiasm, commitment to attacking football and willingness to give youth a chance.
The fact McPake managed to guide Dundee — another club with massive expectations — to promotion from the Championship was another persuasive factor, given the Fifers face a comparable challenge in League One.
McPake was appointed Dundee boss in the summer of 2019 following a brief spell as caretaker; an almighty rebuilding job following the miserable denouement of the Jim McIntyre era.
He missed out on promotion in the Covid curtailed 2019/20 campaign before leading the Dee back to the Premiership the following season, dispatching Kilmarnock 4-2 on aggregate in the playoff final.
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