Dunfermline braced for points deductions

The SFL board will meet at Hampden to hear presentations from the club’s administrator Bryan Jackson before deciding on an appropriate sentence.

The Pars are bracing themselves for a points deduction for breaking insolvency rules after being forced into administration last week over a winding-up order for a £134,000 unpaid tax bill.

Ahead of today’s visit of Hamilton, Dunfermline are currently fifth in the First Division with 42 points, only 13 clear of Cowdenbeath, who occupy the relegation play-off place, and 23 ahead of basement side Airdrie United.

The Fife outfit only have five games left to play this season and the potential for lucrative league reconstruction next season adds to the importance of surviving in the second tier.

Dundee were dealt a 25-point penalty when they plunged into administration in November 2010, while both Livingston and Gretna were condemned to the Third Division in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

Dunfermline legend Jim Leishman, who is fighting for the club’s survival through Pars United, said: “The administrator will present a case to the board. He will have to prove that we can get out of administration.

“First and foremost, can we fulfil the fixtures we have left?

“He will have to convince the SFL board we can do that, and then they have league procedures and rules that they adhere to and we will get our punishment that fits the crime.”

Asked if Dundee’s punishment could be used as a guide, Leishman added: “All the cases are looked at on evidence that is put in front of the board. There are different circumstances and reasons, whatever they are they will look at it as Dunfermline Athletic Football Club.

“I have been involved in the process, it’s very democratic and it’s fair, and they will come to a decision. We can’t influence the decision, we’ve got to take the punishment we get.”

Leishman is on the nine-person SFL board but will not get a say in deciding the club’s punishment for obvious reasons. Airdrie chairman and SFL president Jim Ballantyne, Livingston chairman Gordon McDougall and Dumbarton chief executive Gilbert Lawrie’s views on any sentence are also unlikely to be taken into account to avoid conflict of interest.

The other board members include SFL chief executive David Longmuir, Ewan Cameron (Alloa), Ken Ferguson (Brechin), Anne McKeown (Arbroath) and Malcolm Mackay (Queen’s Park).