During our recent AGM we gave an update relating to our pitch and licence status. In partnership with the Community Club our ambition is to replace the grass at NDP with a synthetic surface. The rationale behind the change of surface would be to allow the park to be used in all weather and in partnership with the Community Club. This would enable the ground to be used 7 days per week, creating jobs in the community, revenue for the club and providing facilities for the extensive waiting list of children keen to play football at Grassroots level. When the club first became aware of the new criteria for entry to the SPFL we in conjunction with a leading Sports Consultancy have worked through various options to level the playing surface and to meet the minimum SFA Bronze Standard criteria required for a club to play in SPFL 2. A scope of works has been produced, a tender process followed to a point where funding permitting we have a letter of intent placed with a specialist contractor to construct a new artificial pitch in the Summer 25. Contingency options for levelling the pitch to meet the minimum permissible gradients are being considered for natural grass. Ground sharing is also being considered as option to ensure we remain within SPFL 2.

Following the SFA decision to downgrade the clubs licence from Bronze to Entry level due to the pitch gradient we no longer meet the bronze level requirement for SPFL 2.
As a result, we were called to attend a formal disciplinary meeting with the SPFL Tuesday 12th November 2024. The outcome of that meeting is the club has been issued with a 6-point deduction with immediate effect. We are currently reviewing our options for grounds to appeal the outcome of the meeting.

The full sanction is detailed below:

At a hearing yesterday (Tuesday 12 November, 2024) an SPFL Disciplinary Tribunal imposed the following sanctions for the Club’s failure to maintain a Bronze level Licence:

(i) The club was reprimanded and warned as to their future conduct;
(ii) The club was deducted six points with immediate effect; and
(iii) The club was directed that no later than 31 January 2025 it provides details to the SPFL Board of the funding arrangements and programme of works to allow the club to undertake pitch levelling works in Summer 2025.

Our focus and objectives remain the same – to regain our Bronze licence status within New Dundas Park. We have however, taken a step back over the last few days to review how we can best achieve this. We have today put together an independent working group to continue our efforts and drive forward the improvement works to ensure our compliance with the current SPFL rules through levelling our playing surface. This has some committee representation but it is being run independently so that we get the best outcome for all. This also allows us to continue to operate the football side as normal and give Calum and the team all the support we can to help them succeed on the pitch. There is an absolute commitment from the working group to meaningfully inform and engage supporters over the coming months.

We are committed to playing in the SPFL and wish to convey that we are doing everything within our power to meet the licensing and league requirements. Over the last 5 years we have spent in excess of £220,000 on upgrades to our facilities within the ground to ensure we meet the criteria for Bronze level licencing (such as our floodlights, floodlight upgrades, new away entrance, seating areas and terraced stands). We are committed to achieving the Bronze standard for our pitch.

This is a community club trying really hard to compete in a professional league. We all live for the highs and lows of a Saturday afternoon and we want that to continue. We have had a number of supporters come to us offering help from cash donations to technical expertise.
The working group will be reaching out for specific support over the coming weeks but please do not wait to be asked if you think you can help. Donald Cameron (cameron.donald@ymail.com) is coordinating this support – please get in touch! - Please provide your contact information and details of the support you would like to provide.
There will be a fundraising plan shared by the working group soon but in the meantime donations can be made through our JustGiving page https://tinyurl.com/2nsc2jfm or in person or on match days.

Finally we thank everyone for their continued support – the next few months will be challenging but together we will succeed.

Thank you.