As Grim Reaper hovers over Dunfermline, Leishman takes key role in bid to save club he loves

Thursday 7 March 2013

JIM LEISHMAN has been known to pen the odd ode to his beloved Dunfermline.

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Martin McMillan

Now, as the man who has become synonymous with the Fife club takes the helm, he will be hoping beyond hope that his next effort will not be an epitaph.

As Dunfermline lurch towards oblivion, Leishman has described the quest to rescue the club as "mission impossible". His doom-laden pronouncement was delivered yesterday after he relayed the news that the club could be served with a winding-up order within 24 hours over arrears, believed to be in the region of £50,000, due to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and which are required to be paid tomorrow.

The amount is a portion of the club's total debt owed to the taxman, which stands at £134,000, while staff have only been paid 55% of their total wages for this month.In another ominous admission, the steering group charged with rescuing the club following the decision of Gavin Masterton, the majority shareholder, to relinquish his board position, confirmed the Scottish Premier League's parachute payment of £125,000 due in August 2013 has already been received and spent.The bleak financial outlook raises the possibly, acknowledged by Leishman, that the 128-year-old Fife institution could be taking its last breaths. The lifelong fan – he has been player, manager and director of the club – is not willing to let it go out with a whimper.Leishman is heading the newly formed group which will take over day-to-day control of the club from Masterton and his two daughters, Karen Masterton and Tracey Martin."This is the hardest thing in my life, the hardest thing I have ever been asked to achieve at this football club," said the 59-year-old. "I took over in 2005 with three games to save the club from relegation. That was mission impossible, this is a little bit harder. But we got there, and we got there because we were all in it together."Will I do it? I don't know. I can't do it myself, that is for sure. There is a short period of time to save this football club; maybe two weeks , maybe three, maybe four. But I cannot have negativity."Of most immediate concern is the tax burden. "We need money by Friday," said Leishman. "Bringing staff wages up to date is a priority, however we need to prioritise further, and staff cannot shut you down. HMRC can shut you down. We need to find a solution for that. HMRC are due money this week."John Yorkston, the chairman, will also step down after 14 years at the club following the completion of the upcoming share issue which, the steering group insist, will be launched in the coming days. However, Masterton will continue to own a 94% stake in the club and, even if the share issue is fully subscribed and raises a pivotal £500,000, he will own at least 75%. This point was made vociferously by a small band of protesters outside East End Park yesterday, one holding a banner stating: "Same Master, New Puppet."In an unorthodox bid for unity among supporters, Leishman invited the disillusioned fans into what became a raucous press conference, before launching into a vehement denial that his work at the club would be influenced by the majority shareholder. Instead, he claims only the opinions of the steering group, including Bob Garmory of the club's principal sponsor Purvis Group, Stephen Taylor, a financial expert from accountancy firm Carter's, and club legend Roy Barry, will be given countenance."Nobody will tell me what to do except from my colleagues on the steering group," said Leishman. "We are not Gavin's lackeys. If I get any interference I will walk away."Leishman last night met the Pars Supporters Trust and head of Supporters Direct, Paul Goodwin. Tonight he will hold a meeting with The Pars Community, who are keen for Dunfermline to become a supporters-run club and who endured an increasingly bitter relationship with Masterton.

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As Grim Reaper hovers over Dunfermline, Leishman takes key role in bid to save club he loves

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