Published: Thursday, 11th June, 2009 12:01pm

Athletic set to pick up player windfall from Setanta crisis?

Comments (0) | Print | Email

THE Pars could play the waiting game and pick up new signings from cash-strapped SPL clubs if the Setanta money for the top league is lost.

With the broadcaster struggling to stay afloat, there are fears a number of Scotland"s top clubs will be in severe difficulty without the TV cash.

And while Pars chairman John Yorkston is praying there"s no financial meltdown in the Premier League, there may be a silver lining for First Division clubs.

He explained, 'I think what we have to do is wait and see.

'There"s a lot happening in football right now, especially with Setanta and what happens if they go belly-up.

'If we were in the SPL right now we"d be saying, "Wait, let"s see what happens before we sign any players".'

The Irish broadcaster has already missed a deadline for a payment of £3 million to the SPL clubs – which was stumped up by the SFA – and there are real concerns about finding a replacement if they do fold.

Yorkston said, 'If Setanta doesn"t recover, SPL clubs will likely be releasing players, ones they"d normally want to keep but can"t afford any more. They would have to reduce their squads if they don"t have the same money.

'Who knows? It could mean those players end up at Dunfermline.'

Yorkston said the impact on lower division clubs would not be as great, despite the fact the SPL does give money to the Scottish Football League.

He said, 'In our case, when we were in the SPL, that money was almost half of our turnover but it doesn"t really affect us in the First Division.

'Finishing third last season got us about £80,000 and some of that was made up from the "compromise payment" that the SPL gives to the SFL. 'But they have to give that money, it"s not conditional on the Setanta money being there or not.

'Assuming, for whatever reason, that the SPL didn"t give the SFL their £1.25 million then it"d be a blow but not a major one as our share was only £80,000.'

It all means that new signings could be thin on the ground until Scottish football"s finances are cleared up, although there could be one departure from East End Park.

Director Gordon McDougall has expressed an interest in buying troubled First Division rival Livingston after a previous stint as chairman of Cowdenbeath.

Yorkston said, 'I"ve been aware of this. Gordon was chairman of Cowdenbeath and I think he"s quite keen on being a one-man band again at Livingston. It"s different there. I think he just likes being his own man so if it goes ahead, good luck to him.'

The Pars" new 2009/10 season kit is available to pre-order now.

The home top will be launched on Saturday 4th July and the away top will be launched on Friday 31st July.

Buy online at www.dafc.co.uk or for more details call 626737 or email shop@dafc.co.uk.