 He was widely expected to join Cardiff City following a successful trial, but the move ultimately fell through, and a trial with Gillingham was also unproductive.Instead, McCunnie was able to secure himself a return to the top flight of Scottish football, signing for Dunfermline Athletic in August 2005.He has established himself as a regular first team player, despite an injury absence early in his Dunfermline career, resulting from an assault outside a Dundee nightclub.