Dunfermline FC up for sale

[Billy Whizz]

There’s been a lot of rumours regarding the Pars of late

Owners selling their stake
https://dafc.co.uk/gmbh-statement/

[Hiber-nation]

They've never really recovered from paying Brewster and Crawford these ridiculous wages. Hope they get something sorted, I was at their game on Saturday and they clearly don't have a lot of money going by the standard of player they've got.

[CropleyWasGod]

This isn't the "owners" as such. The major shareholder of DAFC is the Pars United fans group, as that statement says. They own 66% of the club.

The group selling their stake own about 30% of the club.

[Since452]

Got a soft spot for the Pars. Memories of Jimmy Caldwewood playing 5 up front in the latter stages of games when chasing a goal. Huge potential and decent fanbase. Would like to see them in the top league again.

[Billy Whizz]

This isn't the "owners" as such. The major shareholder of DAFC is the Pars United fans group, as that statement says. They own 66% of the club.

The group selling their stake own about 30% of the club.

Didn’t realise it was as low as that. Pars fans seem keen for them to go, but they aren’t wholly to blame with only 30%

[Bridge hibs]

Got a soft spot for the Pars. Memories of Jimmy Caldwewood playing 5 up front in the latter stages of games when chasing a goal. Huge potential and decent fanbase. Would like to see them in the top league again.

Didnt he do that at the pink piggery when a couple of goals down and they went on to lose 7-0 ?

[CropleyWasGod]

Didn’t realise it was as low as that. Pars fans seem keen for them to go, but they aren’t wholly to blame with only 30%

The problem with this lot is that they lent DAFC £1m a couple of years ago, which they were to convert into an 80% shareholding in 2026. That undermins the fan-owned model, hence probably why the fans were keen for them to go. However, it still needs repaid.

[SHODAN]

Not often you see a derby loss leading to the resignation of the owners.

[CropleyWasGod]

Not often you see a derby loss leading to the resignation of the owners.

They're not the owners


Derby? Yeah, I know about the Falkirk thing, but that's only because they canny beat the Rovers :greengrin

[Ozyhibby]

Don’t know much about the Pars other than that stadium must be an absolute money pit and I doubt anyone is buying in without full control.


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[Pretty Boy]

They had grand long term goals but neglected the team on the park. A bit of success or stability in the here and now might be seen as short termism but it's an important foundation for getting people to buy into a longer term project.

Training centres, academies and so on are great, really important actually but you can't just gloss over a relegation, going into a new season with only one goalkeeper on the books or having a squad that looks a good bet to go down again. Blaming the fans for wanting a competent team on the park is pure deflection. It's not impossible to have lofty long term goals whilst still managing competently in the here and now.

[Smartie]

Don’t know much about the Pars other than that stadium must be an absolute money pit and I doubt anyone is buying in without full control.


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Why would their stadium be more of a money pit than anybody else’s?

[marinello59]

Why would their stadium be more of a money pit than anybody else’s?

Because , like Pittodrie, its age means annual maintenance costs are much higher than with a modern stadium.

[TrinityHFC]

They had grand long term goals but neglected the team on the park. A bit of success or stability in the here and now might be seen as short termism but it's an important foundation for getting people to buy into a longer term project.

Training centres, academies and so on are great, really important actually but you can't just gloss over a relegation, going into a new season with only one goalkeeper on the books or having a squad that looks a good bet to go down again. Blaming the fans for wanting a competent team on the park is pure deflection. It's not impossible to have lofty long term goals whilst still managing competently in the here and now.

Interesting though about the expectation that investors just keep putting money in short term. They seem to think they were clear that wasn’t the plan.

Investing in a football club isn’t fun.

“Nevertheless we have felt for a while now, probably since the middle of last season, that long term planning and putting in place the building blocks for future success is not what many are looking for. Many seem to prefer an investor who has deep pockets to throw at the first team and try for the best over and over again each season. We said from the start that we are not this kind of investor and therefore have detected an increasing disappointment in our approach. Perhaps, therefore, we are not the right kind of investor in the eyes of many at the club.”

[Smartie]

Because , like Pittodrie, its age means annual maintenance costs are much higher than with a modern stadium.

I'm still curious as to why that might be though?

Their 2 stands behind the goals - they'll be roughly the same age as the stands behind our goals but without much by way of suites etc inside them.

They've got a refurbished main stand and the old terracing style bit across from the main stand.

Is it energy inefficiency and insulation that's the problem? I know that's been an issue in a whole lot of different sectors as energy prices spiked in recent years (swimming pools closing down etc).

It just expensive repairs as stuff gets older, breaks and needs updated more often?

Obviously having the whole ground open for matchdays probably isn't all that efficient for Championship crowds, with small patches of folk spread out over 4 stands.

But I don't really get why it should be much more expensive to maintain than other grounds - Raith's for example, which will be similarish in profile.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Certainly have the potential of a Dundee or Motherwell to be a top league team more often than not if they were to get it right.

The demise of Dunfermline over the years is a real shame, they could be one of Scotland's bigger clubs ... IE the potential to get over 5000 home fans at most games in the top league and whatever the case with East End park, at least when you go there you feel like you are in a proper football ground.

Hope they find somebody who can see the obvious potential in the club prepared to chuck a few million at it. Decent fanbase, better than average stadium. Of all the clubs outside of the top league they are one of the few who could be described as a sleeping giant ... in Scottish terms at least.

[The_Exile]

I reckon they'll be favourites for the drop, or at least scratching around down there for the entire season. They are a great club, and as folk have mentioned, the potential is huge. I was at the home game against Falkirk in March last year in league 1. Place was near enough sold out, nearly 10k there for a league 1 game so the appetite is certainly there for big games. Such a shame seeing clubs like this struggling away.

[Billy Whizz]

I reckon they'll be favourites for the drop, or at least scratching around down there for the entire season. They are a great club, and as folk have mentioned, the potential is huge. I was at the home game against Falkirk in March last year in league 1. Place was near enough sold out, nearly 10k there for a league 1 game so the appetite is certainly there for big games. Such a shame seeing clubs like this struggling away.

Been 12 years since they were in top division, think they were even in the 3rd tier a few years ago

[Musselbound]

Been 12 years since they were in top division, think they were even in the 3rd tier a few years ago

They've only been back up for one season but I wouldn't be surprised if they go down again.

[CropleyWasGod]

Been 12 years since they were in top division, think they were even in the 3rd tier a few years ago

They've been in the 3rd tier for 4 seasons out of the last 10 or so.

[Bridge hibs]

My Nephew is a Dunfermline fan and he isnt taking things too well 28106

[Onceinawhile]

They've only got 1 keeper on the books! Imagine he got injured wild.

Something to do with messing up the registration of their back up.

[zitelli62]

I used to go there quite a lot when I was young, my fathers best friend played and managed them so I will always have a soft spot for them hope they get through this as they are bigger than some clubs in the premiership.

[CentreLine]

Interesting though about the expectation that investors just keep putting money in short term. They seem to think they were clear that wasn’t the plan.

Investing in a football club isn’t fun.

“Nevertheless we have felt for a while now, probably since the middle of last season, that long term planning and putting in place the building blocks for future success is not what many are looking for. Many seem to prefer an investor who has deep pockets to throw at the first team and try for the best over and over again each season. We said from the start that we are not this kind of investor and therefore have detected an increasing disappointment in our approach. Perhaps, therefore, we are not the right kind of investor in the eyes of many at the club.”

Telling words and should put the breaks on the people that constantly criticise when success is not instant. Be careful what you wish for!

[tamig]

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Pars. Other than the period when they threw big money at it and were paying OTT wages to the likes of Brewster and Crawford - which they clearly couldn’t afford. I also despised their dick of a chairman John Yorkston. A thoroughly unlikeable individual. Their current woes are still rooted in those reckless overspending times imo.

[Pretty Boy]

Telling words and should put the breaks on the people that constantly criticise when success is not instant. Be careful what you wish for!

I don't think many Dunfermilne fans want 'instant success'. Certainly not the 2 ST holders I know.

A squad containing 2 goalkeepers and a fighting chance of avoiding relegation would be acceptable for them.

[CentreLine]

I don't think many Dunfermilne fans want 'instant success'. Certainly not the 2 ST holders I know.

A squad containing 2 goalkeepers and a fighting chance of avoiding relegation would be acceptable for them.

Yes. But just like our fans and those of most clubs, it’s not the majority that make the most noise.

[One Day]

Was always a good away day, train over, few pints in the Elizabethan etc. few pints in town after game then the train back to Edinburgh. Remember them bringing a sizable support to Easter Road back in the day.

[mvteng]

Don’t know much about the Pars other than that stadium must be an absolute money pit and I doubt anyone is buying in without full control.


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Unless things have changed, the stadium is owned by someone completely different and is not a part of DAFC that the germans own. The whoe things complicated and a bit of a mess

[CropleyWasGod]

Unless things have changed, the stadium is owned by someone completely different and is not a part of DAFC that the germans own. The whoe things complicated and a bit of a mess

That's correct .

It's on (what appears to be) a 30 year lease. The "leasehold property" is shown as an asset in their accounts, which IMO is a misleading way of showing things. It suggests that the club is in a much better state than it actually is.

[Billy Whizz]

Unless things have changed, the stadium is owned by someone completely different and is not a part of DAFC that the germans own. The whoe things complicated and a bit of a mess

Who owns the ground

[Bridge hibs]

Who owns the ground

Pars United (East End Park) Limited
(PUEEPL,) was formed to buy East End Park from KPMG.
Having created PUEEPL, the funders put sufficient money into
that company to allow the purchase of East End Park, together
with sums to meet the stamp duty land tax arising on the
acquisition and necessary expenses including legal fee

[heretoday]

I've always had a soft spot for the Pars and it's sad to see the poor start to their season.
Hopefully, a new owner will perk them up.

[A Hi-Bee]

I've always had a soft spot for the Pars and it's sad to see the poor start to their season.
Hopefully, a new owner will perk them up.

Aye some games in the 1960's with around 30,000 crowds at Dunfermline, great day out, they had some team when Jock Stein won the Scottish with them, never forget we got Micky Edwards from them for a bargain as well.

[MWHIBBIES]

Telling words and should put the breaks on the people that constantly criticise when success is not instant. Be careful what you wish for!

Is this supposed to relate to our owners in some way?

Our owners fully deserve all criticism they are getting. They've taken us miles backwards on the pitch.

[A Hi-Bee]

Is this supposed to relate to our owners in some way?

Our owners fully deserve all criticism they are getting. They've taken us miles backwards on the pitch.

Thought this was about Dunfermline, and the hardship that has befallen them, why change the narrative?

[MWHIBBIES]

Thought this was about Dunfermline, and the hardship that has befallen them, why change the narrative?

So did I. That's why I asked the poster. Seemed a dig at those criticising our owners. May be wrong.

[CropleyWasGod]

Pars United (East End Park) Limited
(PUEEPL,) was formed to buy East End Park from KPMG.
Having created PUEEPL, the funders put sufficient money into
that company to allow the purchase of East End Park, together
with sums to meet the stamp duty land tax arising on the
acquisition and necessary expenses including legal fee

Just doing some digging on that company.

The German company are shown as having 25-50% of the voting rights in PUEEPL, despite having no shares or directorship. It's all a bit messy.

[Billy Whizz]

Just doing some digging on that company.

The German company are shown as having 25-50% of the voting rights in PUEEPL, despite having no shares or directorship. It's all a bit messy.

We are the PUEEPL