Callum Fordyce insists he was in need of a fresh challenge after quitting hometown club Livingston for Dunfermline.
The defender has followed in the footsteps of former Lions captain Jason Talbot in moving to the League One side after signing an initial one-year deal with the Pars.
After making his debut in April 2011, the 22 year-old went on to make over 100 appearances for the West Lothian outfit.
The versatile Fordyce also played his part in April’s Petrofac Training Cup final 4-0 win over Alloa, scoring the second goal.
Fordyce said: “Dunfermline are a big club and I’m looking forward to getting started. It was a good decision for myself to make and hopefully I can help Dunfermline get off to a good start in our aim to win the league. Hopefully it’s exciting times for myself and the club.
“Being a local Livingston boy, it was a hard decision because they played such a big part in my career.
“In my mind, I needed a new challenge and it was time to move on.
“With Dunfermline coming in, I thought that was the right move for me after being at Livingston for six years.”
Fordyce encountered off-field turmoil at the Lions last season and the club remain under a Scottish FA signing ban after former shareholder Neil Rankine was found guilty of breaching dual ownership rules.
But the player insists his desire to try something new was behind his decision to depart Almondvale.
He added: “The off-field stuff at Livingston wasn’t really affecting the boys on the park. I was just really looking for a fresh challenge.
“I spoke to Livingston and had a chat about things, but the transfer embargo obviously threw up a doubt about things.
“I just felt with Dunfermline coming in, it’s a massive club and I’m looking forward to getting started with them.”