Dunfermline are the latest club to be afflicted by Rangers entering into administration, after it emerged the Ibrox club are due the Pars around £80,000.
The sum is gate receipts from Saturday’s SPL clash at East End Park.
Rangers had been responsible for selling the ticket allocation for their supporters and Courier Sport understands Dunfermline had expected to have the funds lodged in their bank account on Monday. That didn’t happen, and by Tuesday Craig Whyte had taken the Light Blues into administration.
Dunfermline are struggling financially themselves and have even closed their North Stand this year to save around £20,000.
A statement from the board issued on Wednesday said: ”All of the board of DAFC would like to express their concern and shock that a giant football club such as Rangers FC has gone into administration.
”The impact of this will be felt throughout Scotland, the UK and Europe and the board and club would wish to convey their support to Rangers FC and hope that the club can find a way through this terrible time.
”However, the direct impact to DAFC is not insignificant: Rangers FC are due DAFC in the region of £80,000 of gate receipts from Saturday’s fixture which is obviously of extreme concern. This payment is no longer expected to be received by next Tuesday which would have been due to the club.
”This is a significant amount of money for a club such as DAFC to lose especially after losing £50,000 due to our game against Kilmarnock being postponed and will create some challenges for us over the coming months.”
It added, however, that “these challenges are not insurmountable.”
The statement continued: ”DAFC and the board of directors already have put in place a number of initiatives to raise additional capital to ensure that the club balances its books and has an ongoing programme to reduce costs.
”To date that programme has already made a meaningful saving for the club by reducing staff, policing, stewarding, fuel and telephone costs and we have made a small trading profit up to the end of January. As at today’s date DAFC are only due £44,000 to HMRC.
”The club also continue to seek to increase commercial income and this is where DAFC fans are key to help achieve this. The most immediate area where everyone can help is in achieving as high a gate as possible at the upcoming game this Saturday against Inverness Caledonian Thistle; please encourage as many friends and family to come along and get behind their local team.”
Dundee United are due £100,000 in Scottish cup ticket money from their match at Ibrox a couple of weeks ago.
In light of this, and Dunfermline’s experience, the Tangerines may decide to handle all ticket sales themselves when Rangers visit Tannadice in about a month.
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