New hope for Dunfermline over East End Park

THE bid to keep Dunfermline alive and playing football at East End Park has taken a fresh twist after it was revealed the company that owns the troubled club’s stadium has gone into administration.

Dunfermline's East End Park stadium. Picture: TSPL

East End Park Ltd (EEP Ltd), the business set up by Dunfermline’s discredited majority shareholder Gavin Masterton, was placed into administration on Friday amid suggestions that a controversial £12.2 million loan had been called in by the Bank of Scotland, where Masterton was once chief executive.

The latest development in the battle for the club’s survival is being viewed as a positive by administrator Bryan Jackson, who is now optimistic a deal can be struck with EEP Ltd’s administrator, Blair Nimmo, of KPMG Ltd, to ensure the Pars are able to continue playing at their home of nearly a century.

Prior to the administrators taking over at EEP Ltd, Dunfermline’s hopes of remaining at the ground hinged on negotiations with Masterton, who became the target of supporters’ anger as the club slipped into administration in March.

However, with the fan-led Pars United group attempting to put together the finances to fund a rescue package ahead of next season, Jackson is encouraged that an agreement can now be put in place that will allow the Fifers to play on at the stadium.

He said: “The recent development, you might argue, is a help. That is, an administrator being appointed over East End Park Ltd last Friday.

“We now need to talk to Blair Nimmo of KPMG Ltd about a licence to occupy the ground or short-term lease to the club. This would ensure there is a ground to play on and allow time to sort something out in the longer term.”

Reporting that he has also had approaches from two others with an interest in taking the club forward, Jackson added: “I have had interest from two individuals who have appeared to have shown a genuine interest, verbal only at this stage. One was interested in the ground and the other, I believe, is a supporter of the club, who is interested in getting more involved.

“I can clearly state that Gavin Masterton is not one of those two individuals and has not made any 
offer to me, verbally or otherwise.”