Pars chief has another rant

Last updated : 29 June 2012 By Shaded

Dunfermline are in limbo at the moment and with time running out until the new season kicks off, they are still no further forward on knowing whether they or Dundee FC will be playing in the top tier.

The situation has become so farcical, Yorkston suggested — with tongue firmly in cheek — that the directors of both clubs should settle the matter with a penalty shoot-out.

Confusion over the issue reigned once again on Thursday with an early report claiming senior Scottish football officials have proposed the Ibrox side start next season in the First Division with Dundee moving up into the SPL.

However, the Scottish Football League subsequently released a statement saying: ''No agreement has been reached between the SFL and any other body regarding the position of Rangers newco in the First Division.''

Later in the afternoon, they issued another statement saying, ''The Scottish Football League has been involved in intensive discussions with The Scottish Premier League, The Scottish Football Association and other crucial stakeholders in our game, to try and address, in a positive way, the current critical issues affecting our game.

''The Scottish Football League will today send a briefing document to its member clubs — a logical and positive communication which will hopefully eliminate some of the understandable doubt, threats and insecurities that are apparent within the game at the moment.

''The consultation document will fully explain the short and long-term benefits of a number of scenarios which we will be considering at a full club meeting next week.''

Yorkston believes that the final decision on who replaces the fallen Glasgow giants will rest with the remaining top-tier clubs themselves.

He said: ''We spoke to (SPL chief executive) Neil Doncaster on a conference call on Monday night to try to get some clarity on the situation. Neil was of the opinion that they would ask the 11 remaining clubs — assuming Rangers were no longer in the SPL — to vote on whether it would be us or Dundee who would be invited in.

''We feel we have the stronger case but I am sure Dundee will feel the same. The problem is there are no rules in place to deal with this situation, although there have been examples in the past of teams not being relegated because of factors such as stadiums not being ready for the SPL.

''But it really isn't fair on ourselves or Dundee. We really need an answer soon and all we would ask is that there is transparency in how they are making the decision.''

He joked: ''At the moment, it is getting to the stage where they should just toss a coin or have a penalty shoot-out between the two boards of directors. Seriously, though, we need clarity — although, as I said, we firmly believe we have the stronger case to be back in the SPL.

''Another thing in our favour is that if Rangers are relegated and Dundee stepped up that would mean to all intents and purposes that two teams would have been relegated from the SPL when only one is supposed to go down.''

He added: ''Our manager Jim Jefferies has two budgets drawn up depending on what league we are in next season. That's why we had that call with Neil on Monday — to try to discover what was likely to happen.

''At the moment, if we exclude the youngsters from the squad, defensively we only have two right-backs and a one-armed goalkeeper in the shape of the injured Paul Gallacher, signed for next season.