DUNFERLIME Athletic boss James McPake has revealed that they almost brought in defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott, prior to his York City move. 

Fagan-Walcott, who joined York earlier in the week on a season-long loan, has made the switch into the Vanarama National League despite gaining Sky Bet Championship experience with parent club Cardiff City earlier in the campaign.

The 22-year-old was initially a part of the Tottenham Hotspur youth academy, penning a first professional deal with the Premier League giants in July 2018. 

Operating at centre-back, Fagan-Walcott would never appear in the top flight with Spurs, but did accumulate minutes in a UEFA Champions League round of 16 defeat to Red Bull Leipzig. 

A spell with Dundee was hampered by injuries, before Cardiff swooped for the out-of-contract defender, who would go on to shine in a loan spell at Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship. 

It was the second time that manager McPake had signed Fagan-Walcott, at both Dundee and then Dunfermline, with the Pars boss disappointed that he couldn't make it a third reunion. 

McPake confirmed to the Dunfermline Press that he did make an approach to Cardiff to take Fagan-Walcott on a third loan to Scotland, in a late Deadline Day swoop. 

Cardiff had initially accepted Dunfermline's approach for Fagan-Walcott, before opting to reverse their decision after interest was shown from clubs in England, including York.

McPake was frustrated by the outcome, telling the Dunfermline Press: "To be fair to the club, we had an offer put in for Malachi Fagan-Walcott.

"It was accepted earlier in the week, but then a couple of teams in England came in, and Cardiff thought it was beneficial to send Malachi out in England again.

"That's not a decision I particularly agree with, but maybe I'm biased, although I can see Cardiff's point of view as well.

"We missed out on him in the end but we've still got this full month to do any domestic loans.

"From the conversations I had with him, he was pretty keen to come back, but he is a Cardiff City player.

"He's come on in the Championship for them this season, he's started in the Carabao Cup, so I think he's got a future there.

"They're looking to get him out on loan in England, so that was kind of taken out of our hands."