KELTY HEARTS manager Kevin Thomson has resigned.

The New Central Park club have confirmed reports that suggested the 37-year-old was set to step down from his position.

Thomson's assistant manager, Kevin McDonald, will also leave the club.

In a statement, Kelty said: "Manager, Kevin Thomson, and assistant manager, Kevin McDonald, have today tendered their resignations which have been accepted by the club board.

"Over recent weeks it became apparent that Kevin’s aspirations lay away from Kelty Hearts Football Club.

"We would like to thank them both for their efforts whilst with the club. This resulted in our promotion to cinch League One, winning the league by 21 points and reaching the fifth round of the Scottish Cup for the first time in our history.

"We would like to wish Kevin Thomson and Kevin McDonald all the very best in their careers going forward.

"The club have begun the process of identifying a new management team, we will update further as the situation develops."

Earlier, the Daily Record reported that Thomson, who was recently interviewed by Raith Rovers before they appointed Ian Murray as their new boss, was set to walk away..

Following Barry Ferguson's decision to quit and join Alloa Athletic after leading Kelty into the SPFL for the first time, the club turned to former Hibernian and Rangers midfielder Thomson, who was working as a coach within the Ibrox club's youth academy.

His first season in management has proved to be spectacularly successful, impressively leading the 'Maroon Machine' to promotion to the third tier.

A 1-0 win over Stenhousemuir in late March, thanks to St Johnstone loanee, Max Kucheriavyi, sealed the championship with five games left.

Kelty went on to finish with a 21-point advantage over second placed Forfar Athletic, having ended the campaign unbeaten on their own turf, and with just three losses throughout.

Premiership Dundee United were the only team to win at New Central Park, in the first game of Thomson's reign, in the Premier Sports Cup, and Thomson also led Kelty to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup for the first time in their history.

Victories over Buckie Thistle, and League One Montrose, was followed by a memorable win over holders St Johnstone before they bowed out to St Mirren.

Thomson's achievements saw him named as the Glen's SPFL League Two Manager of the Year, and his stock rise.

Following their sacking of Tommy Wright in December, Thomson was interviewed by Kilmarnock, who subsequently appointed Derek McInnes and led them to the Championship title, and he has gone on to speak to Raith.

He has never hidden his desire to progress into full-time management and, in a recent interview with Press Sport, he said: "I think everybody knows where I’m at, everybody knows my ambition to get to the top.

"I’ve never hid that fact from Dean (McKenzie, the club’s general manager) and the club.

“I’ve loved every minute of it. I’ve been fully committed – me and Geordie (Kevin McDonald, Thomson’s assistant) have never missed a training session, the whole season.

“I always arrange my schedule being at Kelty Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, midweek games, whatever it may be. I’ve never really missed a beat, me or Geordie, and I think that shows our commitment to where we want to get to.

“I don’t think it would be disrespectful, or not being honest, to say that I’ve got aspirations to be a full-time manager at a big club one day, but I’m just taking my time. I’ve done it the hard way."

Thomson has also been linked with the vacant post at Dundee, where he also had a spell as a player, following their relegation from the Premiership.