Crisis-hit Dumbarton have turned to an online fundraiser in a bid to ensure players and staff get paid this month.
The Sons were plunged into administration on Tuesday and sunk to the bottom of League 1 after being hit with a 15-point penalty by the SPFL. Administrators Quantuma have spoken to manager Stevie Farrell and his squad to assure them nobody will be released from their contracts but Record Sport understands players are concerned they won’t see their November wage packet.
Now a GoFundMe page has been set up with a target of raising £50,000 – with contributions already topping £12,000 in the first couple of hours. And organisers have pointed the finger at the club’s largest shareholder, Cognitive Capital, for their part in the financial crisis afflicting the 152-year-old club.
The page, set-up by Cameron Watson, the Sons Supporters Trust member on the club board, and Joanne McBride, said: “Due to the club not receiving financial support from the majority shareholder or monies owed to it, the directors took the hard decision to put the club into administration in order to find a solution to overcome its financial challenges.
“We would greatly appreciate any support you can give. Please be assured that all monies raised will go directly towards player and staff wages and the costs associated with running the club. No funds raised on this page will go to the club owners/shareholders or be spent on professional service fees.”
Dumbarton became the second League 1 club to plunge into administration in little over a month, following on from Inverness. Last month they reached out to business people to help cover player and staff wages.