A group of East Fife fans have hinted they could yet challenge a plan by four of the club’s existing directors to take the reins at Bayview.
Board members Jim Stevenson, who is interim chairman following the departure of Lee Murray earlier this year, Dave Marshall, John Barclay and John Stevenson are in the midst of negotiations to buy the majority shareholding from the current owners, and plan to create a holding company for that 52% stake.
They say they hope the move will stabilise the Methil club and potentially put them in a position in five or six years’ time where they can release shares to supporters.
However, some remain unconvinced that the plan is viable and the East Fife Supporters Society (EFSS), who have long called for a joint bid between themselves and the directors to facilitate a fan ownership model, will meet on Thursday to discuss their next steps.
The group say they will take advice from their financial advisers and senior representatives of Supporters Direct but have not yet ruled out opposing the directors’ plan.
“We are very conscious of the tremendous amount of support both financially and in kind that has been offered to us over the last few months and would like to thank all concerned,” the EFSS said.
Crucially though, the spokesman concluded: “We do not see this as the end of the matter.”