Dunfermline Athletic’s fed-up players will fulfil today’s league game against Partick Thistle after the prospect of strike action was averted.
Squad members had threatened to walk out when they received just 20% of their February salary on time on Thursday, but extra money was found to increase that amount to 50% last night and the Pars will play as scheduled this afternoon.
Sources close to East End Park suggested owner Gavin Masterton secured “additional funding” following a crisis meeting with Pars boss Jim Jefferies, although the club remained tight-lipped about where the money had come from.
However, the crisis is far from over as the Scottish Football League (SFL) are now poised to impose potentially serious sanctions on the cash-strapped club.
February was the fifth month that players and staff were not paid their full salaries on time, with the players’ union PFA Scotland confirming yesterday that a formal complaint has now been lodged with the SFL.
That could see the Pars hit with a fine, a transfer ban or even a points deduction if the SFL see fit to punish the Fife outfit for their repeated problems paying wages.
Supporters angry at the club’s financial predicament are also set to stage some form of protest at East End Park this afternoon, while clubs like Cowdenbeath and Hamilton along with a list of other creditors are still owed money.
The Pars are struggling to meet a monthly wage bill of £150,000.
Mr Masterton said “strenous efforts” are being made to ease the cashflow difficulties.
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