TWO parties are lining up bids for Dunfermline Athletic Football Club plc, with the intention of securing a route out of administration for the company that owns Dunfermline Athletic before the beginning of next season.

The fans group, Pars United, is one of the likely bidders, while the other remains unidentified, with the highest offer made to administrators BDO securing the purchase.

The groups, who are considered the only serious, credible interested parties, must submit their bids by June 18. The following day, a meeting will be held at which all creditors will vote on proposals to pursue a Company Voluntary Arrangement. This requires a 50% vote, after which the administrators will immediately set a date for another creditors meeting to vote on the CVA proposal, which is pencilled in for July 12.

That vote requires 75% backing, and a favourable vote is followed by a 28-day period during which appeals can be lodged. However, BDO have sought assurances from the Scottish Football League that if the CVA vote is successful, the league will consider DAFCplc as having successful exited administration before the beginning of next season, and so avoiding a points sanction for Dunfermline's campaign in the second division. The timescale is short for that reason, but also because there is only enough funding to take the business into the middle of July.

The situation is complicated by the fact that East End Park Ltd, which owns the stadium, is also now in administration. That business is being managed by KPMG and the two bidders for the company that owns the football club also intend to bid for the stadium. The supporters consider owning the ground as important to their business plan, which involves Dunfermline being owned by a Community Interest Company that ordinary fans have shares in.

Little is known about the second group planning to bid for the club and stadium, although several influential figures close to the situation have always assumed Gavin Masterton, the former majority shareholder, would attempt to buy East End Park Ltd back out of administration, since the stadium has regularly generated profit through hosting events. The Dunfermline support, though, would rail against any future involvement from Masterton, given the state of DAFCplc's finances.

According to a report published by administrators Bryan Jackson and Robert Barclay of BDO LLP, the club went into administration owing around £12m to creditors. A large share of that is due to companies connected to Masterton, with £5.8m owed to East End Park Limited. A further £2.7m is due to Charlestown Holdings Limited, the company controlled by Masterton, who held a 93.6% shareholding in Dunfermline before administration. Her Majesty's Revenues and Custom are owed around £160,000 for unpaid VAT and PAYE, while loans to directors, including former chairman John Yorkston, total £177,000.

There are 128 trade creditors due a total of £1.9m, including a number of football-related companies. Aberdeen are due around £13,000, Cowdenbeath £4100, Hamilton Academical £5900, Hearts £13,300, Morpeth Town £750, Preston North End £21,000, Rangers oldco £2000 and the Scottish Football Association £900. Other notable creditors include: Belhaven Brewery £112,000, Bitwise Ltd (a local software developer) £100,000, Fife Council £93,000, Ross McArthur (fan working with Pars United), £145,000, an S Masterton (believed to be Gavin Masterton's wife) almost £200,000, Bob Purvis (club sponsor) almost £100,000, the Pars Supporters Trust £10,000 and the Scottish Ambulance Service £2700.

Money owed to employees, stands at around £166,000, of which £16,000 is owed to Jim Leishman and £10,000 to manager Jim Jefferies. The figures, however, have been disputed by Joe Cardle, one of seven players made redundant, who is reportedly owed £3232. "Of course I'm owed the money . . . but the figures shown are far from correct!" he tweeted. "Someone has got to get their facts right." Fees due to the administrators so far are around £180,000.

With KPMG controlling East End Park Ltd, they will have a significant say in the CVA vote, since 75% need to vote in favour to recoup money owed. Masterton will also have a vote, through Charlestown Holdings, but it would only cause a further backlash against him if he was to prevent a CVA from being successful.

Pars United, a coalition of fans' groups, recently struck a deal with businessman Ronnie Weymes, who is one of more than 10 patrons prepared to fund the offer for DAFCplc and East End Park Ltd. The target is to raise £400,000 from patrons and £100,000 from supporters, who can pledge at www.buythepars.org.