Dumbarton boss Stevie Farrell has promised fans his players will pull together and fight for League One survival after the Sons were plunged into administration.
Farrell admits Monday evening’s bombshell left him shocked as the 152-year-old club become the second in the division to be placed in the hands of administrators following Inverness. It’s now expected Dumbarton will be hit with the same SPFL penalty as Caley Thistle – meaning a 15 point deduction that would see them sink to the bottom of the table with zero points.
Players and staff at the club have been told their positions are safe ahead of Saturday’s trip to face Alloa. And Farrell, who will sit down with his squad tonight, said: “I spoke to the administrators this morning and they gave assurances round about the playing staff and coaching staff that it is ‘as is’ and we move forward into the game on Saturday and prepare accordingly for the rest of the season football wise. What goes on behind the scenes and trying to bring in investors is a role for the administrators.
“I found out on Monday night at 5.30pm. The harsh reality is it came as a bit of a surprise. But I’m assured it’s the right thing for the sustainability of the football club and we all just have to pull together at this difficult time and get through it. We have to stick together. We are going to get the points deduction, we understand that consequence, but we have to get back to playing football and get as many points as we can.”
Glasgow-based financial advisers Quantuma have been appointed as administrators and said the club’s directors had “no option” but to take the step into administration after failing to receive money owed from the sale of development land in 2021. Joint administrator Ian Wright added: “As administrators, we will be investigating the circumstances surrounding this transaction and other issues affecting the club, but will not be in a position to comment further at this time.
“Our immediate priority is to ensure the club can complete its fixtures and we will be meeting with key stakeholders to ensure this can be achieved. We understand this will be a shock to fans, staff and the local community.
“The club employs 18 playing staff, six football staff and three club staff whose roles are secure whilst we work through the early stages of assessing the options available to the club. We would invite any interested parties to come forward.”
Dumbarton were taken over by Cognitive Capital in May 2021 with the group headed by Norwegian businessman Henning Kristoffersen. But The Sons Supporters’ Trust have outlined concerns for a number of seasons about the club’s ownership model. Local MSP Jackie Baillie also previously voiced concerns about the club’s ownership, saying Cognitive were chasing a “get-rich pipe dream”, adding “it is in nobody’s interest that the football club should stagnate”.