Dunfermline Athletic’s chairman John Yorkston launched a withering attack on The Pars Community fans’ group (TPC) after last-ditch rescue talks collapsed last night, dubbing them “nuisance value”.
Mr Yorkston also claimed majority shareholder Gavin Masterton “called their bluff”.
Mr Masterton, who is out of the country but was represented by David Ovens at the talks failed to agree a deal to relinquish control of the cash-strapped club to a consortium of fans ahead of a Friday 10am deadline, and talks were terminated as a result.
Now the Pars, who are the subject of a winding-up order from HMRC over an unpaid tax bill, are thought to have little over a week to find around £119,000 to pay up or face the prospect of seeing the historic club liquidated.
Trade creditors are owed around £450,000, while the club has struggled to pay players and staff at East End Park on time recently.
Mr Yorkston said of the TPC: “I think Gavin called their bluff by actually agreeing to what they were after. They have just been nuisance value, mouthing off and there has never been any substance behind it.”
The alliance said they were willing to invest at least £250,000 in the club if a supporter-owned model could be developed.
However, last night they said talks had broken down because they had been denied access to the Pars books.
They issued a statement which read: “Before a transaction can be concluded, it is necessary to carry out a proper due diligence process to check the facts. There may be a can of worms waiting for the new owners.”
For extensive coverage of the crisis at East End Park, see Saturday’s Courier.