Cowdenbeath fans fear Spartans takeover as owners try to cut losses

COWDENBEATH FC have admitted they are investigating the possibility of a groundsharing arrangement in a bid to cut financial losses – but supporters fear that the club's future is threatened by a rumoured takeover.

There was strong speculation last night that the club could be the subject of a bid from East of Scotland League side Spartans which would see the Cowdenbeath name disappear from the Scottish senior leagues.

The situation has come to a head two years after Gretna FC spiralled into oblivion and were replaced by Annan Athletic in the Scottish Football League, with the Dumfriesshire club defeating Spartans in a vote to earn the vacant spot.

Cowdenbeath's owners spoke with SFL officials yesterday to discuss all possibilities. As well as the day-to-day running costs of a Second Division club currently battling for promotion, the owners say they have been hit with a 7,500 fine by the game's administrators after they were unable to expand the size of their pitch and upgrade floodlights to bring them in line with league regulations.

They believe the levy would increase to 10,000 next term and double within the space of two years. Add that to a lack of local investment and the fact that gate receipts are falling well short of covering matchday costs, the clubs owners admit fresh answers are being sought.

"We have put out letters to all the chairmen of the (senior] Fife clubs looking at groundsharing," said Newbridge farmer Alex Brewster, who owns 87 per cent of Cowdenbeath's shareholding, along with other members of his family. Long-term owner Gordon McDougall sold up two years ago, and the only other directors on the Cowdenbeath board are Alex's twin brother David, also a farmer, and his son Scott, an accountant.

"Our ground is not compliant re pitch size and lights and we are restricted because of the stock car track," said Alex, a former Scotland rugby internationalist who won six caps between 1977 and 1986. "The quotes for any expansion were for a lot of money and we are looking to relocate some time, or merge or groundshare."

It is understood that Spartans were also contacted as possible groundshare partners at the Edinburgh team's Ainslie Park home. The Brewsters made no comment on a possible tie-up with Spartans, who have taken several senior league scalps in the Scottish Cup in recent years and have made no secret of their desire to step up to the SFL.

Cowdenbeath moved to Central Park when the ground was opened in the heart of the town in 1917 and the most unusual aspect of the stadium is the tarmac track which runs around the pitch. Even if ground alterations were affordable, there is an obvious reticence to impinge on the stock car racing – one of the few money-making ventures at the club's disposal.

Brother David said the estimated cost of making the ground SFA compliant was around 200,000 "and at the moment no bank will look at lending anybody any money to do anything."

However, while matters are looking bleak for the Fife side, which was founded in 1881 and has been a member of the Scottish league since 1905, the brothers say they are not ruling anything out. "A lot depends on what the cost will be to groundshare but it's important that we are not fined again for not having a pitch that is big enough," said David. "We have been waiting on the Henry McLeish (Scottish Football Review] report coming out which is expected to look at ground sharing and mergers.

" It's common sense when you are trying to run a business to at least look at things like a groundshare."

At the moment, there is only one groundshare agreement in senior Scottish football. East Stirlingshire left their Firs Park home in 2008 to become tenants at nearby Stenhousemuir, where there is an artificial pitch.

Cowdenbeath, nicknamed the Blue Brazil, gave current Scotland manager Craig Levein his start in senior football, both as a player and a manager and they are the oldest surviving league club in Fife. But Alex confessed the family is well aware of more recent history, with clubs such as Clydebank and Gretna succumbing to their fiscal frailties and going out of business and admitted it was an ongoing concern for most football club owners.

"It is something facing the majority of clubs and that is well versed," said Alex. "That is why we are currently looking at everything," added his brother.

The matter is likely to be discussed again today by SFL officials, and it is expected the issue will be referred to a league management committee meeting next week.

Rev Ron Ferguson, the honorary president of the Cowdenbeath Supporters Club, said last night that he was aware of the speculation regarding a Spartans takeover, and is deeply concerned about the Fife club's future.

"There is a real worry that we are going to be another Livingston – moved to another town and the team's name changed, like happened to Meadowbank Thistle. We presume that the owners are losing money and want out, and the club could suffer. The Primer Minister has an active interest in Cowdenbeath because the club is in his constituency, but if the Brewsters decided to walk away tomorrow there is nothing that any supporter could do to stop them."

A Spartans club spokesman said: "Like a number of clubs we are aware that Cowdenbeath are examining a number of possibilities but feel it would be unfair to comment on that any further at this time. At the moment it remains a matter between Cowdenbeath and the SFL."