End For The Pars?

[ian1964 10,448]

Pars keeper Paul Gallacher reveals the tears and fears as his club lurch towards liquidation

 

NO help coming and no hope left is the bleak reality facing Dunfermline fans and players as the clock ticks down to the end of 128 years of history.

 

GAVIN MASTERTON once told Dunfermline’s players they were lucky to have a job.

 

Come 5pm tonight they’ll be even more fortunate to have a club.

 

As 128 years of history gets ready to disappear at the hands of HMRC and liquidation, the Pars owner remains nowhere to be seen.

 

The retired former treasurer and managing director of Bank of Scotland is now the Fifers’ last hope of a bail-out but please don’t laugh.

 

There’s no time for humour as another huge piece of Scottish football’s fabric prepares to be ripped to shreds.

 

Masterton’s silence was deafening as fans of all ages tossed their loose change into the Pars Need You buckets on Halbeath Road before kick-off.

 

They were frozen to the bone, each braving the biting cold to filter into East End Park for possibly the final time as the epitaphs are now being written and last rights administered.

 

If a tax bill of £134,000 isn’t paid today the Grim Reaper will come calling for one of our game’s proudest institutions and Pars keeper Paul Gallacher could hardly disguise his pain.

 

He said: “It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe it’s come to this. It’s heartbreaking. Living in the town I see grown men crying, upset that this is potentially the end of their club.

 

“I’m in among the supporters and I’ve a lot of friends who are supporters of this club and Dunfermline is dying on its knees in front of them.

 

“I just hope somebody can come in with a rescue package to save this club. These really are trying times.

 

“Jim Leishman spoke to us on Friday and told us the money has to be paid by 5pm on Monday. But there’s no funds to pay it. We were told it was up to Gavin Masterton. It’s in his hands. It’s not looking great.

 

“We’re just hoping someone can rescue the club or even keep us going till the end of the season and then we can take it from there. Let’s just pray something happens or it’s going to be a long summer in Dunfermline.”

 

Divine intervention may be a better hope than Masterton’s cheque book but Gallacher was scathing in his belief that the SFL and SFA have abandoned them in their hour of need.

 

He said: “They’ve not done a thing yet, have they? Nobody has helped at all. We are trying to do it ourselves and there’s a lot of guys working so hard and trying every avenue.

 

“But the league won’t help us. There’s no protocol in place to do anything to help out. It’s up to ourselves and any potential investors to come in and turn this sorry sight around.”

 

Dunfermline carry debts of around £8.4million with the bulk owed to companies run by Masterton and his business Charlestown Holdings.

 

But the steering group led by Pars hero Leishman have now walked away from a rescue package after being spooked by the discoveries from an examination of the books as they carried out due diligence.

 

They do not believe there can be long-term sustainable viability in the business and Leishman, a man capable of more colourful turns of phrase, put it bluntly. He said: “We are now at the end of the road.”

 

Dunfermline are due to face Falkirk on Wednesday and Leish insists that date is still in his diary. But Gallacher believes off-field distractions were a factor as the Pars went down 4-3 to Dumbarton on Saturday after taking a two-goal lead.

 

The keeper said: “We did ever so well in the first half but were sloppy after the break. Dumbarton didn’t even have to work for their goals. It’s a hard one to take.

 

“Of course what’s going on off the park is in the back of the boys’ minds but to lose goals in that manner is still very disappointing.

 

“We can’t blame it on the off-the-park stuff. But it’s a trying time and we are still in the dark regarding what’s going on. We know this club could be going belly-up and it’s a worrying time.”

 

It would be unfair to dismiss the Sons’ result which has given their own chances of First Division survival a massive shot in the arm.

 

Pars opened through Ryan Wallace and Andy Barrowman. Stephen McDougall pulled a goal back only for Barrowman to extend Dunfermline’s lead.

 

But strikes from Chris Turner, Scott Agnew and a winner from McDougall six minutes from time sealed the points.

 

Pars boss Jefferies, who has maintained a dignified presence through six traumatic months, insists the defeat wasn’t for want of trying. He said: “I asked the players if their hearts weren’t in it as there could be reasons for that.

 

“The club may not be here in a few weeks’ time and maybe that’s affected them. Maybe it’s not intentional but more subconscious that some are saying, ‘What’s the point’?

 

“They assured me that was not the case and it was down to bad mistakes. That’s how it is for us just now, every mistake is being punished.

 

“If that’s a result of off-field things then that’s for other people to debate.”

 

Dumbarton manager Ian Murray admits the bigger picture of the Pars’ predicament was always going to prove the main talking point and overshadow his side’s achievements.

 

He said: “We showed great character to come back from 3-1 down against a side which is above us in the league and we were away from home.

 

“The next few days will be all about Dunfermline’s woes and the problems they have. I hope they pull through – not just for their club but for the good of Scottish football.”

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dunfermline-3-dumbarton-4-keeper-1783595

[Guest DietofWorms]

Scottish Football is sinking and what have we heard from Regan et al?....fuck all.

Gallacher is right....It's a scandal and the media should be all over them.. but again it seems that people are happy to see a good club go to the wall. (I know about Yorkson but this is sad to see IMHO)

[54andcounting 0]

It's a shame really, how the fans of that club are feeling right now I feel sorry for.

 

Men and women who have supported that club all their life helpless to do anything about it. Tragic.

[ian1964 10,448]

Dunfermline have until 5pm on Tuesday to pay tax bill, says HMRC

 

Dunfermline have until Tuesday at 5pm to pay their outstanding tax bill and avoid liquidation - not Monday as was previously believed.

 

A spokesperson for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has confirmed to STV that the deadline to pay up £134,000 in outstanding taxes is in fact at close of business on Tuesday, March 26.

 

It had previously been believed that the deadline was Monday, March 25.

 

A winding-up order was lodged with the Court of Session on Friday, March 8 and was published on Tuesday, March 19.

 

Dunfermline owner Gavin Masterton told staff at East End Park on Monday morning that an announcement would be made regarding the club's future on Tuesday.

 

Voluntary administration and liquidation of the company are among the possible outcomes if Dunfermline cannot pay the tax man.

 

Last week a fans steering group fronted by ex-player and manager Jim Leishman abandined plans to take over Masterton's shareholding, due to fears it could not afford to run the club in the long-term.

 

http://m.stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/dunfermline/218953-dunfermline-have-until-5pm-on-tuesday-to-pay-tax-bill-says-hmrc/

[ian1964 10,448]

@stvdavidc

Looks like administration for #Dunfermline. Jim Leishman says group of fans paying cost of administrator.

[ian1964 10,448]

Judge to decide Dunfermline's fate today as HMRC continue to push for club's liquidation

 

Gavin Masterton will lodge a petition at the Court of Session in Edinburgh this morning requesting that the company which owns Dunfermline Athletic is put into administration.

 

However, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs will also proceed with their petition for a liquidator to be appointed, after yesterday's 5pm deadline for a £134,000 tax bill to be paid was missed.

 

A judge will now decide on the fate of Dunfermline Athletic Football Club Ltd. Herald Sport understands contact was made with HMRC yesterday, and they informed that they will press ahead with the winding up order that was served eight days ago. However, some sources believe they may not argue their case in court today or try to obstruct administration. No assumptions can be made, although the decision is based on the best possible outcome for creditors, and that is generally considered to be administration.

 

In the event of such an outcome, Dunfermline's game against Falkirk tonight will take place, but the club will be subject to a points sanction. The Scottish Football League board will determine the extent of that punishment, since there is no set sanction in the rules. Dundee were deducted 25 points when they went into administration for the second time in 2010.

 

Should a liquidator be appointed, though, tonight's game would not go ahead and the Dunfermline players will need to find new clubs as free agents before Friday, the final registration deadline for this season. All Dunfermline's results in this campaign would be wiped from the records.

 

Masterton has asked Bryan Jackson, the experienced PKF insolvency practitioner, to carry out the administration of DAFCL. Jackson completed the administrations of Clyde, Clydebank, Motherwell and Dundee. If approved by the court, Dunfermline's administration will be underwritten by funds from fans and local businesses, however Jackson would still have to cut costs.

 

"We are back in the game," said Jim Leishman, the former Dunfermline manager. "It was either liquidation, when we would have been done and dusted, or this. Now we still have a chance and hopefully this will lead to the long-term sustainability of Dunfermline. People want us to survive and we have to be optimistic. Last week it looked like we would have no jobs and no future.

 

"We need to try and be positive, although you cannot guarantee where we will be in a few months. Dunfermline is an institution and I am sure supporters will come out in their numbers.

 

"The player's union, PFA Scotland, are happy with the appointment [of Jackson] because he has done it before and he knows exactly what is required. I am comfortable with Bryan taking over and hopefully it will work out. I have had a lot of sleepless nights over the past three weeks and it is not a nice situation to be."

 

There are difficulties to overcome in the pursuit of a Company Voluntary Arrangement to exit administration. This requires 75% of the creditors to vote in favour of a pence in the pound deal on their debt, with Dunfermline owing Masterton and various directors £8.4m and business creditors a further £450,000.

 

By serving the winding up order, HMRC have positioned themselves as the leading creditor, and they rejected the CVA proposed by Rangers last summer. DAFCL also have no assets beyond the club's brand, league share, SFA membership and the players' contracts.

 

There is also the question of Masterton's 94% shareholding. He would need to agree to that being transferred to any new owner who buys the club out of administration by funding a successful CVA. However, he could also sign over control of his shareholding to Jackson as part of his appointment as administrator, and so allow Jackson full control of the process.

 

The stadium and a successful events business is owned by East End Park Ltd, which is also part of Masterton's failing Charlestown House group. EEP Ltd, which owes Lloyds Bank £12m, will inevitable fall into administration as a consequence of DAFCL going into administration. A different administrator would be appointed, though. Any potential buyer would want to purchase the club and the stadium, preferably through successful CVAs, but that process will be complicated. It is also thought that Masterton might seek to raise enough funds himself to buy the stadium back then lease it to the club, a move that would be hugely unpopular in the local community. Leishman confirmed that Masterton played no part in securing funds to instigate the administration process, and insisted the former Bank of Scotland executive is "having a hard time".

 

Jim Jefferies admitted that the players' mental state will be affected by the outcome of today's court petitions. However, he welcomed the potential appointment of Jackson because of his previous experience in dealing with football insolvencies.

 

"We've heard he is a decent guy but he still has a job to do," the Dunfermline manager said. "And people have to accept that he may be ruthless. Right now we're all in the dark. How do you know how the players will feel? They won't do anything intentionally but their minds are totally scrambled right now."

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/judge-to-decide-dunfermlines-fate-today-as-hmrc-continue-to-push-for-clubs-liquidation.20629562

[bluedan 93]

HMRC are ruthless. I said to a friend today when talking about this 'fuck them. They couldn't wait to dance on our grave'.

However after reading into it more I do feel for the Pars fans. Doesn't look good for them.

 

To be here today the gone tomorrow is a feeling we know too well...

[Jimbo55 0]

HMRC are ruthless. I said to a friend today when talking about this 'fuck them. They couldn't wait to dance on our grave'.

However after reading into it more I do feel for the Pars fans. Doesn't look good for them.

 

To be here today the gone tomorrow is a feeling we know too well...

 

Never forget they along with many others wanted us dead...so fuck them

[craig 5,199]

Not every club in Scotland wanted us dead - but Dunfermline and Yorkston were very vocal about the need to heavily punish us - wonder if Yorkston feels that the same hefty punishment should befall his beloved Pars ? Karma, it sure is a bitch.

[Steve1872 4]

STV Sport‏@STVSport15mSTV understands 7 or 8 first team players will be made redundant at Dunfermline. 3 from under-21s also set to lose jobs. (via @STVRaman)