Jim Leishman fears that Dunfermline could be pushed towards liquidation tomorrow.
HMRC are pressing for an unpaid bill of £134,000 with the boardroom split and supporters groups suspicious of the motives of majority shareholder Gavin Masterton.
During the 80’s and 90’s Masterton rose to the top in Bank of Scotland but the takeover from Halifax brought his career to a halt and he stepped down in 2001 from the newly merged bank.
Dunfermline have been dogged by financial troubles for almost a decade with the ownership of the ground no longer part of the football club making credit facilities almost impossible.
Addresing the current crisis yesterday Leishman admitted: “Time is not on our hands, this weekend is crucial. It’s vital that we communicate. We need to forget about the past and move on. A proposal is on the table and Gavin has asked the group some questions.
“I’m sure by Monday we’ll know what’s happening.”
The former East End Park boss added: “I don’t have all the details but want to be in a position to tell supporters on Monday where we are.
“I would say if we can’t get together, if we don’t get finances in, it’s liquidation. We’ve not got time. I think Gavin wants an exit route. It’s how we get a deal suitable for all parties.”
Despite the shambles of Rangers liquidation last summer the SFA still have no rules in place to deal with the liquidation of a club.
It’s unclear if Stewart Regan will predict social unrest or if a special working group will be set up to provide a place in the SPL or if a new club will be given SFA membership without having five years audited accounts.
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Dunfermline like any other club in financial trouble didn’t just happen overnight. They have had years to get their act together, failure to do so has now led them to current situation.
Poor management from Directors down has seen the club freefall into almost certain liquidation. Used to work beside a Pars fan who told me quite seriously he would rather have an empty seat next to him than me paying to watch Celtic. I’m no bigot, not one for signing songs that have no part in football and he still insisted an empty seat was best. You reap what you sow and will now have plenty of empty seats.
No tears from me, said for years Scotland with 40+ pro clubs is a joke. Professional status in name only, many junior clubs are better run.
I expect Spartans to step forward but Celtic should be at the forefront to get our second XI more experience like they do in many other Countries.
Willie, As a Celtic supporter of Forty five years and now pushing the big sixty age group, I am sure you take my point when I say that it is Heartwarming to read articles written by like minded Celtic people such as your good self. I take no joy at the imminent demise of d.f.c. just because they were fronted and represented by people who would have been happy to see our club die.
We are an inclusive club, not an exclusive one and I hold our principles dear and live by them. Please let us consider the Socialist Ideals of which our Institution embraces and stands for and do not rejoice at the damage both economical and social that will visit the good people of the Fife region should , the knock on effect is not something I will laugh at and neither should any true Celtic Man and women either.
Support the great institution that we are, but let us be an example to others also.
Why don’t they just do a Sevco ala debt free in division three.
They should be racking up debts, buying players they can’t afford and not paying bills, fill the coffers and start in Div 3.
We have too many professional clubs in this country, some of them should swallow their pride and look at almagamation or ground sharing!
Would you join forces with the zombies or ground share the scrappy with them ? The supporters of these wee clubs love there team just as much as we love ours,its nothing to do with pride HH
be interesting to see if Dunfermline will be afforded the same privileges as The Rangers, should they be liquidated.
This will be very interesting. I really hope that the Directors of Dunfermline are searching for someone to buy the club for about 1 pound and then play the Sevco card. Liquidation and set up as as new version without batting an eyelid. Why not? Only those who have provided good s and services get screwed, who cares. If it is good enough for Sevco then why can’t the Pars get away with it. When they just die, it will be clear how much help was given to Sevco.
Am going to buy them for pennies not pay any debt tell everybody were a Newco but the same club keep the good bits get rid of the bad bits and sell shares in the new club a mean company and hope everybody believes me. It is that easy HH
Dont worry dunfermline fans, liquidation is fine, wipe your debts out and start again, they will try and get you back in the spl, if not youll be gauranteed a place in div 3, and you can still be called dunfermline and play in same strips, nothing changes you cant lose
They should phone agent whyte to ask for help
I’m certainly not laughing at the plight of clubs such as Dunfermline. They have a great history espcially from the early – mid 60s, Scottish Cup success, great runs in Europe.
But alas they have also been heavily involved in financial shenanigans with Mr. Masterton who has caused so much damage to Scottish Football. I’m sure there are many good people involved behind the scenes, players, fans etc but they have allowed their club to be taken over and run only for the short term. I’m sure they have something like a 30-40 year loan with no interest but will lose the ground / land if they have to sell-up….no doubt to Mr. Masterton who will have engineered their demise.
No Scottish club will ever be allowed a credit facility again if they follow Sevco’s path. Our game will simply be a joke as clubs fold / start-up and fold again…this is what the SFA has now opened up and MUST be held accountable for. The reason the SFA MUST be disbanded and a new associated formed from scratch.
Some clubs will inevitably go the wall or at least drop to find their true level. The rules were turned inside out and re-written to ensure Sevco were returned at some level, but I suspect that door will now be firmly shut on any club that finds themselves in similar trouble.
In no way was I suggesting you would be laughing at D.F.C. and their problems Willie,just wanted to make that clear my friend.Good Luck.
Is it the club that is in trouble or just the holding company that owns the club?
Provided its the latter Pars fans should have no trouble “going on a journey” and making friends. When this sort of thing happens I believe Sky also play their part in showing the stricken clubs fixtures live on TV.
Could be the best thing for them in years