Irvine Welsh tweets Dunfermline survival support

The author of Trainspotting voiced his support on Twitter for Pars United as the campaign confirmed it had reached almost £40,000 of donations from supporters in just three weeks since its launch. Welsh, who now lives in Chicago, tweeted: “Used to live in Dunfermline and occasionally went to EEP. Great club, want to see them get well again.”

The campaign is aimed at raising funds to assist a supporter-led bid for administration-hit Dunfermline Athletic and Margaret Ross, Chair of The Pars Supporters Trust said: “Irvine Welsh’s message means a lot to us and demonstrates that fans of all clubs understand the importance of a club within a community and what it means to their fans. The fans have already raised a really impressive amount [£40,000] in a short period of time but we need to keep this momentum going to help us reach the target from fans of £100K. Unfortunately we don’t have a lot of time to do it.

“We need everyone in the community, be they individuals or businesses, to back the effort to ensure the future of the club for the whole community.”

The fundraising campaign was launched by Pars United, assisted by Pars Supporters Trust and Supporters Direct Scotland.

Potential buyers for Dunfermline have just five days to register a bid for the club and East End Park as the Fifers’ battle for survival continues.

Pars United and a mystery second party are thought to be showing genuine interest in purchasing the club if it can exit administration through a Creditor’s Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). However, with the stadium in a separate business, East End Park Ltd – which is also in administration – a successful bid for both stricken companies is required if Dunfermline are to be guaranteed to live on at East End Park.

Club administrator Bryan Jackson has agreed with his counterpart at at East End Park Ltd, Blair Nimmo, that a “package deal” should be put on the table. A deadline of Tuesday has been set for bids. Interested parties are not necessarily expected to have the money available at that stage, but evidence of funds, or future income, will be looked on favourably.

A creditors’ meeting will take place on Wednesday at which, subject to 50 per cent approval from creditors, a preferred bidder could be named. The key date is 12 July, when a further creditors’ meeting will take place and the preferred bidder will seek the backing of 75 per cent of the creditors for a CVA.

Jackson has previously said that Dunfermline will almost certainly be liquidated if they cannot exit adminstration by that July deadline.