Dumbarton FC launch fundraiser for £50,000 after entering administration

Dumbarton, one of Scotland’s oldest football clubs, has launched a fundraiser for £50,000 after it entered administration on Monday.

Club directors appointed Glasgow-based financial advisors Quantuma as administrators on November 18 after they “were left with no option” after failing to receive money owed from the sale of development land in 2021.

The League One side, who have been champions of Scotland twice in their 152-year history, were deducted 15 points leaving them four behind Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who also entered administration this season.

The Sons have since launched a GoFundMe in a bid to raise £50,000 to help with club running costs including the payment of staff and player wages.

The fundraiser reads: “Support the fighting fund to save our club.

“Due to the club not receiving financial support from the majority shareholder or monies owed to it, the Directors took the hard decision to put the club into Administration in order to find a solution to overcome its financial challenges.

“We would greatly appreciate any support you can give.”

Latest club accounts show Dumbarton were owed more than £1.6m, and that a payment of £300,000 against that loan had not been paid to the club, with its accounts stating: “The recovery of this debtor is dependent on the successful completion of a residential development on the land sold.

“The developer has experienced a number of challenges and at the date of signing these accounts discussions remain ongoing with planning authorities to obtain detailed planning permission and work on the development has not yet commenced.”

Last month, a private individual had to step in to pay wages at the club, STV News understands.

After reports began circulating on Monday, the club released a statement on social media saying: “We want to acknowledge the reports shared on varying media outlets tonight and understand it’s not the news that people wanted.

“A statement will follow tomorrow.”

Dumbarton was formed in 1872 and have won two Scottish league titles, including sharing the first-ever title with Rangers back in 1891, and the Scottish Cup in 1883.

They have also won the second tier on two occasions (1911, 1972) and the third (1992) and fourth (2009) on one occasion each.