KELTY HEARTS manager Kevin Thomson will not be leaving for another job in Fife after Raith Rovers appointed their new manager.

And Dunfermline Athletic have also filled their vacant hot seat with the appointment of James McPake yesterday (Tuesday).

It's not known if Thomson was in the frame for the Pars job but he did hold talks with Rovers.

The Stark’s Park club, on the lookout for a successor to John McGlynn, who departed for Falkirk, had been given permission to speak to the 37-year-old about their dugout vacancy.

It's understood that Thomson, who was named as the Glen’s SPFL League Two Manager of the Season last week for guiding the New Central Park to title success in their first season in the SPFL, impressed during those discussions.

However, the Championship side spoke to other candidates, including Airdrieonians manager, Ian Murray, who yesterday (Tuesday) was installed as their new boss.

Thomson has also been linked with Dundee – where he had a two-year spell as a player – as they search for a successor to Mark McGhee, who left the club following their relegation from the Premiership.

For now, though, the New Central Park gaffer remains committed to Kelty and is planning ahead for next season, which has included handing a contract offer to influential midfielder, Jamie Barjonas.

Defender Dougie Hill has retired from professional football, while Andrew Black, who has signed for East Kilbride, Botti Biabi and Josh Donaldson are leaving the club.

Speaking to Times Sport, Thomson said: “I’ve never shifted away from 110 per cent focus on Kelty.

"I’ve knocked back media work through the season to be committed to make sure I’m at training. Me and Geordie (Kevin McDonald, Thomson’s assistant) have never missed a training session or a game.

“The biggest thing I can say is that everybody knows I’ve got aspirations to get to where I want to get to but, at the same time, I’m really comfortable in where I am at the moment.

“We’ve loved every minute of it, and not just because we were successful, because we felt like we were unsuccessful in the Premier Sports Cup because we never got through.

“We felt like we never did ourselves justice against St Mirren (in the Scottish Cup) because we got beat, so it wasn’t all plain sailing, with the games we lost in League Two, some of the injuries and COVID. It was a difficult season, but we’ve genuinely loved every minute of it. Kelty is a brilliant club. We’ve had great support; I’m fully committed to the club.

"In football, things can change quickly, I’m not naive to think that, but I’ve never wavered from the job I’m doing, and that’s the manager of Kelty Hearts, and being committed to make sure that everything that needs done for Kelty is getting done.”

Meanwhile, Kelty plan to increase the stadium capacity at New Central Park and improve the match day experience, adding that "most if not all home matches will be segregated next season".

Work is to begin on new toilet facilities at the away end and they're close to submitting planning applications for the proposed new South Stand, which would increase capacity by 500 and include a new hospitality lounge / community cafe, LED scoreboard, canteen, kitchen and toilet facilities. The club are also hopeful of creating a memorial garden, behind the North Stand.

General manager Dean McKenzie added: "Both the squad and our facilities will need some upgrading to get us ready for the challenge ahead, and we are under no illusions how tough it is going to be.

"We will be competing against some big clubs with much bigger budgets in the division, with bigger fanbase and towns to call upon on matchdays and commercially. We will however be up for the fight by way of hard, smart work and some good old fashioned Kelty 'mining' spirit."