Weekly Meeting

Thu, Jul 21st 2016 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Speaker - - Ross McArthur, Chairman Dunfermline Athletic


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Pars promote ‘feel-good factor’

THERE is a “feel good factor” around the newly-promoted Dunfermline Athletic, the club’s new chairman has told Dunfermline Rotarians.

Ross McArthur - who was applauded for his leading role in returning the club to the community” - declared, ”Due to a massive team effort, with everyone pulling in the same direction, the club currently sits in a really good position.”

But the chairman stressed, “The ongoing support of the community is absolutely vital for the club.”

Mr McArthur was confident, however, that “if all work together, then we can drive DAFC forward to create a strong and prosperous football club that we are all proud of, at the heart of our community.”

In outlining the club’s three-pronged strategy for success across the football, community and commercial fronts, The Pars’ chief gave an upbeat status report on the club’s post-administration progress – a success story which has made it a model for other clubs and even a case study for Higher Business Management.

He explained that navigation of all “legacy” issues was now complete, that DAFC remained debt-fee and, while there was a need to build up capital reserves, the club had last season made its first profit in 20 years.

The Centenary Club Lifeline retained around 1000 members, contributing £210,000 annually to the club’s coffers, and season ticket sales were expected to break 3000 for the new season.

”Enhanced transparency, communication and engagement are creating a ‘feel good factor’ around our club.” he said.

On the football front, they were delighted to have achieved their objectives of winning the SPFL League 1 title and competing well in the cup competitions.

“Football objectives were achieved by good management and preparation and by skill, style and flair on the pitch,” he said. “Allan Johnston and his back-room staff, along with the players, worked so hard to achieve success. Players bought into Allan’s methods and approach, with clearly improved fitness and conditioning levels.”

But Mr McArthur pointed out that the euphoria of lifting the league title had been tempered by the knowledge that every single player and the management team would all be out of contract as at 31st June.

However, they were delighted that Allan Johnston, Sandy Clark and John Potter had re-signed for the next two years,that all of the existing first-team squad the manager wanted to retain had also signed new contracts and that five new players had been signed from Premiership clubs.

While the club faced increased stadium costs, “due to years of neglect”, their challenging sponsoring and advertising targets looked set to be met and the Athletic were also building a new strength and conditioning gym at East End Park.

All matches had been sponsored, with the exception of three, and match-day hospitality and non-match-day weekend events were proving very popular.

Mr McArthur said, “We are also engaging with the local community much more than ever before.”

A disabled access group had been established and “by some margin”, East End Park was now the most disabled-friendly stadium in Scotland.

A Dunfermline Athletic Heritage Trust had been created, being recently represented at The Somme commemorations, and memory boxes of Pars’ memorabilia had been assembled to aid Alzheimer’s sufferers during visits to East End or care homes.

The Pars Foundation was promoting a full range of community football coaching courses and summer camps and the club’s multi-dimensional school engagement programme, which chimed with the Curriculum for Excellence, had now reached over 2100 primary six and seven pupils.

Mr McArthur said that the club was also operating across a wide range of social-media platforms including Facebook, on which they had registered an increase of nearly 20,000 “likes” in one year.

The Pars’ chief ended with an appeal: “Our club’s promotion benefits the whole town. But we need everyone’s support. Please attend home matches and encourage friends and family to come along. Also consider match-day hospitality for any friends or family special events; and consider hiring the club’s function rooms for birthday parties or special celebrations.”

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