COWDENBEATH fans’ group The 100 Club have donated £10,000 in a bid to ease the financial crisis at Central Park.
The Blue Brazil, who are cut adrift at the foot of League Two and average crowds of 320, have conceded they are in dire financial straits and recently issued a rallying cry urging supporters to back the Fife outfit.
Scottish coaching icon Sir Alex Ferguson last month lent his support to the efforts to save the 137-year-old institution, saying: “Cowdenbeath is a smashing wee club, it’s the epitome of the lower-league clubs who struggle a lot and have good times and bad times. They always have great stories at the heart.”
Nevertheless, the club have been reliant on directors’ contributions due to having no bank overdraft facilities and their plight was discussed at the Scottish Parliament after the issue was raised by Fife MSP Claire Baker.
Hit in the pocket by a lack of income from stock car racing at their Central Park home, a dearth of transfer fees and low attendances have been major factors as they seek to raise £135,000.
It was recently confirmed that Cowdenbeath had reached a total of £28,000.
However, that has been boosted by The 100 Club, whose members pay a monthly fee to the Blue Brazil as well as embarking on fund-raising efforts, who handed over the five-figure sum prior to Saturday’s fixture against Stenhousemuir.
Since its inception in March 2011, the group have now contributed more than £50,000 to the club.
A Cowdenbeath spokesperson said: “A cheque for £10,000 was handed over to manager Gary Bollan to help support the finances of Cowdenbeath.
“This takes the total of donations made to the club by the 100 Club in just a few short years to over £50,000 – a truly remarkable figure and effort which has been a vital cash lifeline to Cowdenbeath.
“The board of Cowdenbeath wishes to put on record their deep gratitude to the 100 Club and all its members who so often go the extra mile for the club and so ably demonstrate the true dedication our fans have to our club.”
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