Published: Thursday, 19th April, 2007 12:00
Pars’ replay blast for SFA
By Sports Desk
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Pic by: Dunfermline Press
PARS fans have been caught in the middle of a war of words on the eve of Tuesday’s Scottish Cup semi-final replay.
Athletic chief John Yorkston this week joined fans in blasting the SFA over their decision to stage the rematch at Hampden.
But the beaks have hit back claiming the club agreed back in March that any replay could take place at the national stadium.
As few as 4000 fans are expected to travel from Fife to cheer on the Pars in a game which could see them clinch an emotional return to Europe and bag a second Scottish Cup final appearance in three years.
Cash-strapped fans must stump up for Hampden tickets and travel to Glasgow for the second time in 10 days .
Marvyn Stewart, chairman of the Dunfermline Athletic Supporters Club, said, “It’s shocking, totally shocking. It’s an awful trail for both sets of fans when it could have been accommodated just over the water. The way it has been organised suggests no-one really cares about the fans. And the fact there has been no reduction in ticket prices and that it’s on television smacks of pure greed.”
Margaret Ross, chair of the Pars Supporters Trust added, “It’s a nonsense. How many people do they think they are going to get? So many people won’t be able to make it because of work, family or cost.”
And Yorkston weighed in this week, with the chairman particularly scathing over the SFA’s decision to make the replay all-ticket.
“Jim Leishman and (club official) Karen Brown were at the meeting and they were told then that the replay would be on a Tuesday at Hampden. If that’s a discussion, then it’s not our idea of a discussion,” he told Press Sport.
“They were told that the SFA want to hold as many top games at Hampden as they can and that’s what’s happening. They say they were told, ‘You will get this and you will get that’ and they claim there was no opportunity given to discuss. How can you justify making it all ticket? We will be lucky if there’s a crowd of 10,000 there. You’ve got to have a bit of common sense and think of what’s best for the fans as a whole.
“Surely to goodness they can make it pay at the gate. It wouldn’t take brain surgery to work out a way of selling tickets as people arrive at Hampden.”
SFA spokesman Andy Mitchell countered, “We had meetings with the clubs on 5th March and again just before the semi-final on 12th April.
“No objections were raised at any time over that six-week period or any suggestions made that we should take it anywhere else.
“It was accepted by all four clubs and there was ample opportunity for Dunfermline and any other club to make a comment or any type of representation that they perhaps thought this was not an option.
“It’s extraordinary that John Yorkston should then realise the implications after the match is played and then start making suggestions when there was a six-week planning process.
“Football needs to plan ahead and have some degree of certainty so arrangements can be put in place. It does no help at all to anybody if club chairmen criticise arrangements put in place by their own clubs.”
Mitchell said Hampden chiefs were expecting a crowd of 15,000 based on estimates from the Pars (4000) and Hibs (11,000) which would be accommodated in the south (Pars) and north (Hibs) stands.
Ticket sales will be reviewed on Monday with the possibility of tickets going on sale at Hampden on the night according to Mitchell.
He explained, “With no prospect of a cash turnstile on the night, which leads to people sitting anywhere, we have to have advanced sales of tickets. People have reservations about this but surely the emphasis should be on getting behind the clubs.”
Press Sport believes the Pars stand to earn a “six-figure sum” on top of their revenue from the first semi-final thanks to the replay.
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