Dunfermline face points hit as SFL punishment looms

THE Scottish Football League will launch disciplinary proceedings against administration-hit Dunfermline today, chief executive David Longmuir has confirmed.

The stricken Irn-Bru First Division club was granted interim administration last week in a bid to stave off a winding-up order launched by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Dunfermline owe the taxman £134,000 and also have further debts worth around £8.5million outstanding to majority shareholder Gavin Masterton and other companies. But, by entering into administration, the Fife club now face an SFL points penalty.

Administrator Bryan Jackson has asked for leniency, claiming a severe punishment could impede his ability to save the club. Longmuir, however, stressed he would discuss the matter with the trouble-shooter from accountants PKF before initiating the disciplinary procedures. He said yesterday: “I was speaking to Bryan Jackson this morning and I will meet him tomorrow to discuss the plans he has and how he sees the future of Dunfermline. That, actually, is the most important issue facing the league.

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“We need to be able to manage that situation, as we have managed all the other unfortunate insolvency issues we have had. I will be meeting Bryan to try and assess the situation before we do anything. I have given him time to try to see what’s happening at Dunfermline. I’ve been in contact with all the key players within the club, I know what’s going on and the SFL will deal with that in the next few days.

“That process of deciding penalties will commence after I meet Bryan. It’s only fair that I have given him some time to assess the situation before the football authorities come in and do whatever we have got to do. But we have a tried-and-tested process on that one and we have always handled it fairly and always treated each case on its merits. We will do that again.”

Pars manager Jim Jefferies, meanwhile, insists he wants to know sooner rather than later if the club are to be punished.

A likely points deduction for entering interim administration could push the Fife outfit – who have five games left – towards a nail-biting First Division battle to avoid demotion.

Currently in fifth place with 42 points, the Pars are only 13 clear of Cowdenbeath, who occupy the relegation play-off place, and 23 ahead of basement side Airdrie United.

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

Jefferies said: “I would like to know as quickly as possible what the outcome is so we know what we have to aim for.

“I’m told there is no set punishment. It’s the players that will get punished but if that’s the rules, then that’s the rules.

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“We will take our punishment then set up accordingly, but the quicker we know the better.”

Jefferies is urging fans to come out in numbers for their three remaining home matches.

He said: “There have been a lot of meetings and the point they are trying to put across is that three home games could be vital.

“It’s more than just about other people putting money in. The fans have to play their part.

“I was told the other day that when Jim Leishman came in to try and avoid relegation from the SPL with three games to spare in 2006, they were getting well over 5,000.

“We could do with getting that figure now. I know they’re targeting 5,000 plus although it’s not about staying in the SPL this time, it’s about staying alive.”

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