The SFL have taken heavy action on Dundee FC
This punishment is as good as relegation for Dundee – and has devastating effects for everyone connected with the Dark Blues. Relegation to the Second Division will likely force the club to go part-time if they fail to bounce straight back up. When you consider how many players they will be forced to release, automatic promotion does not look likely.
This decision by the SFL is astonishingly heavy. Dundee have been docked more points than any of the Italian clubs involved in the 2006 match fixing scandal were.
“We are of the opinion that lessons are not being learned,” said an SFL statement. “For example, clubs have to realise that, going forward, they cannot treat their [tax] obligations as something akin to a credit card.” They make a good point – and have also made an example of Dundee. Other clubs in Britain have been in the same boat with HMRC; Cardiff and Portsmouth most notably. So it is fair to say that Dundee knew what was coming – even if they did not expect it to be so heavy.
Hearts manager Jim Jefferies described the punishment as “harsh” but acknowledged that Dundee were now in the same position for the second time in seven years, so something had to be done.
I’m not denying that action had to be taken, Dundee HAD to be punished. They had earned place money, and could’ve earned promotion with players they couldn’t afford so as a result had prejudiced other clubs.
From where I sit, which is very much on the fence in this case, the SFL are just as responsible for what happens to the players who are going to be look for new clubs, new jobs even new careers as the club were when they entered administration. That’s who my sympathy is for – the players and staff. The ones who have already been paid off and are looking for clubs, the staff looking for new jobs who need to put food on the table, pay mortgages and with about seven weeks until Christmas. And now, for the players and staff who may still have employment, but have no idea where their future may lie after the end of this season.
Dundee are going to have to start selling off their assets, as there’s no quicker way to recoup large amounts of cash. One option which has been mentioned is potentially selling Dens Park and sharing with neighbours Dundee United. Obviously, the fans aren’t going to want to share with the enemy. what looks more likely is star man Leigh Griffiths being sold, whether they like it or not. With rumours that St Johnstone and Kilmarnock are interested in the striker, he looks likely to be off. Though, for the Dark Blues, would holding onto their striker banging in goals and challenging for promotion be more profitable in the long run? allowing them higher prize money in the league and a bigger fee for Griffiths in the summer?
This matter should have been dealt with long before Dundee were allowed to get into administration again. It wasn’t and they were allowed to pick up exactly where they left off, a bit like Motherwell were.
Brian Jackson has the task of getting Dundee out of administration
Their administrator was Brian Jackson, who is charged with the same task at Dens Park. With Dundee given 10 days to appeal the SFL decision, there is a lot more news still to break on this story.
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These things happen in football and it is just unfortunate that it has happened to the same club again. Livingston suffered a similar fate recently but have improved and they are almost in Division 1 again. Dundee have bounced back from this before and, providing they get the correct backing they will again. It could become a massive problem for Scottish football due to the lack of money in the game north of the border
Livingston was a different kettle of fish, they went into admin during the close season, and were relegated as they may not have been able to fulfill their fixtures.
It is heavy-handed but don’t give up hope yet. They might have a storming season. Unlikely but believe.
I think the decision to fine Dundee 25 points is way over the top and has effectively relegated Dundee to the second division, which could subsequently kill the club. I thought the SFL were the last Scottish football institution with a bit of integrity after the SFA have refused to ackowledge that our game needs to be changer right down to grassroots level, and now, the way they have dealt with the the current refereeing situation is nothing short of scandalous. then you have the SPL, who have allowed our top flight to grow stale. And now, the SFL have pretty much put a club out of business.
Good point Jordan, and the refereeing debate will be tackled on here soon!
As one of the officials put it, it’s kicking them whilst they’re down. The Premier League, to my knowledge, deduct 9 points when a club either goes or is close to administration. 25 points is a very harsh penalty from the SFL – not really one to come back from, game wise, and they’ll suffer no matter what.
It happened to Portsmouth – who faced Chelsea in the FA Cup Final last year. Sure, they were beaten 1-0 but it was hardly the 6-7 nill massacre that everyone was predicting (and how other teams have fared against Chelsea – like West Brom). For them to be relegated and deducted 9 points was seen as harsh – can you even imagine how Dundee fans must be feeling? It’s an uphill struggle for them now and one that would be an absolute miracle to come back from.