Dumbarton politicians throw support behind effort to secure future of town's crisis-hit football club

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Dumbarton's politicans have thrown their support behind efforts to secure the future of the town’s crisis-hit football club.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, along with West Dunbartonshire MP Douglas McAllister, have met with representatives of the Sons Supporters Trust to discuss ways of safeguarding the club’s future.

Dumbarton was plunged in to administration last month following years of uncertainty behind the scenes.

The Sons – one of Scotland’s oldest remaining clubs – were hit with a 15 point deduction which sees them sit rock bottom of the League One standings, six points adrift of Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who have also plunged into financial difficulty this campaign.

The club entered administration “following the non-receipt of significant funds that were owed to the club from the sale of development land in 2021”.

Football at the Rock looks now to be guaranteed to the end of the season, thanks to the devotion and generosity of loyal fans.

A Go Fund Me page set up to ease the club’s plight has hit more than £97,000 of its £100,000 target – including a whopping £10,000 from the Sons Supporters Trust – in an ambitious attempt to keep the club afloat.

The backing means the club’s immediate future has been secured, however, both the MSP and MP are eager to ensure that continues in the long-term.

Both politicians met with administrators Ian Wright and Craig Morrison, and representatives of the Sons Trust, pledging to do all they can to assist.

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McAllister said: “My immediate concern is for the staff of Dumbarton FC, both players and non-playing staff. I was encouraged by my discussions with the administrators, which have concluded that, thanks to the generosity of donations, they are confident the club can continue to operate until the end of the season.

“I wish to thank all the supporters and friends of Dumbarton FC, and the local community and businesses that have rallied round and donated to the GoFundMe Crowdfunder.

“I would also encourage locals who are in the position to do so, to consider making a donation to assist the club continue until the end of the season.

“I understand a number of local businesses have been extremely generous, which is very welcome. We shall also use our contacts with local companies and businesses to encourage others to donate to the crowdfunder.”

It’s understood that the immediate priority for the administrator Quantuma, is to stabilise the club’s finances, before establishing liabilities owed to creditors. The insolvency experts will also root out any debtors who owe funds to the club.

Ms Baillie added: “It is essential that any new owner has Dumbarton Football Club’s best interests at heart.

“So those who are developers with a land deal as their only priority should look elsewhere.

“I am clear that Dumbarton Football Club has a bright future but it is essential that we engage new owners who are motivated solely by the continuation of this historic club.

“Fans have dug deep into their own pockets and put their money where their mouths are to show that support, now we need new owners who are willing to do the same.

“I cannot praise Dumbarton’s fans enough for rallying round, the response was incredible and I understand how difficult it is to achieve that, especially at this time of year.

“The directors were right to call in administrators but Cognitive Capital, the owners have a lot of questions to answer.”

When the club entered in to administration, The Sons Supporters Trust said that they hoped the process would provide more detail on the land sale involving the historic side, and added they are ready to work with administrators and third parties to secure the club’s future.

Dumbarton were taken over by Cognitive Capital in May 2021, with the group – headed by Norwegian businessman Henning Kristoffersen making bold claims about moves to full-time football, using the club as a pathway for talented young European players and moving to a new stadium near Dalmoak.

However that was all that had been heard from Cognitive since their takeover.

The Sons Supporters’ Trust have outlined concerns for a number of seasons about the club’s opaque ownership model.

In February they told the Lennox Herald: “Cognitive Capital, with no previous known involvement in football ownership, appears to have identified our historic club situated in an attractive location as a vehicle for property development, and the Trust will require much more than repeated warm rhetoric to allay our concerns.”

And in a statement released following the news of administration, they added: “The Sons Supporters Trust is saddened but not shocked by today’s developments at Dumbarton Football Club.

“For some time it has been evident that the club has been operating under straitened circumstances, and whilst the appointment of an administrator is a very serious undertaking, it is to be hoped that an end can now be brought to both the club’s opaque ownership model and the Boardroom tensions which have characterised affairs at Dumbarton FC since the purchase of the majority shareholding by Cognitive Capital Limited in April 2021. It is our opinion that the local directors have reached a brave and sensible decision.

“Furthermore, the Trust would hope that any legal due diligence associated with the administration process would encompass the provenance and detail of the funding arrangements for that purchase.

"As well as the suspected transfer of a portion of land previously belonging to the football club to a shell housing development company created by Cognitive Capital Limited, done without either the knowledge or approval of the Dumbarton FC Board of Directors in place at that time.”

Companies House documents showed that, in May 2023, more than £300,000 had been spent than earned in the two years since May 2021. A loss of £12,500 per month.

In the 2023 accounts, it stated that a club sold heritable assets worth £1.8m to a ‘related party’ – with the first payment for this of £300,000 due in April 2023.

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