Dunfermline will not be given explanation from SPL over Dundee promotion

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston has explained his frustration and anger after being told that the Scottish Premier League will not explain their decision to ask Dundee to join the top flight.

The Pars finished bottom of the SPL last season and were relegated but, following Rangers’ exit from the league, the Fife club expected to be asked to take the vacant spot.

Instead Dundee, who finished as runners up in Division One, were invited to step up and their place in the SPL was confirmed at a vote on Monday.

Dunfermline asked for an explanation of the process and were told that they would be provided with written reasons in the next two weeks. However, the SPL told STV that no explanation would be given, much to Yorkston’s dismay.

“We contacted the SPL to ask what the sporting merit was that they decided upon to put Dundee into the Premier League,” he said. “We’re still waiting on a response.

“I find it very strange. Probably, they don’t have an answer to give us.

“You tell me what sporting merit it is based on. It’s shocking that they can’t give us an answer.”

The East End Park side have been taking legal advice and had been considering further action to protect their interests. Yorkston said the lack of clarity on the situation made deciding on the next step a tough task.

“Every day takes a different twist,” he explained. “We’re two weeks away from the competitive games starting.

“We were originally told we would be told in two weeks which is once the competitive games have started.

“You’re now telling us we’re not going to get an answer. Obviously it makes it very difficult when we’re working out what we’re going to do.”

Yorkston suggested that one reason may be that once the season had started in earnest, there would be no way that a legal challenge could cause a postponement while Dunfermline made their case for an SPL place.

“I don’t know if that’s their tactic,” he said. “[They may feel] that if you don’t know the reason you can’t appeal against that reason. But we have to speak to our legal folk and see what they make of this latest development.

“We are now resigned to playing in the SFL. Any challenge that we do would be against the decision for us not to play in the SPL now. We’re not going to be the club that holds everybody up by appealing and delaying the start of the leagues.

“I don’t think I could begin to describe [how Dunfermline have been treated]. ‘Shoddily’ is probably the mildest way that I could put it.”

Rangers scenario mis-handled

“I think the whole thing has been badly handled with the Rangers scenario, the newco scenario,” he added. “It’s not even settled with Rangers if they’re playing in the Third Division next year.

“They’re there now, they’ve been punished. Let them get on with it.

“It’s wanting to kick folk when they’re down and they are treating Dunfermline the same.

“We’ve been kept out of the SPL and we haven’t been told why.

“There’s 101 questions that need answered and all we’re getting is a blank wall.

“I think if [STV] have been told, it would be nice if they [the SPL] told us.”

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