A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORS

Last updated : 08 April 2005 By Pars Mad
The Dunfermline Athletic Supporters Club Website last night displayed the below message at the request of the Pars board:

"The directors are asking if the fans in the North West Stand would move for the Rangers game (just the one match). This would mean the club could rake in an extra £25k much needed cash from that game. Season ticket holders would be asked to change the ticket in their books for a seat in another area. And don't worry you will be able to sit with your pals. It would be a good gesture to help the club when most needed."

Now first and foremost let's get this straight. I'm not at all adverse to helping the club out in these financially precarious times but forgive for being a little bit slow here...

I forked out well over one hundred quid for a season ticket last summer; I've proceeded to fork out for ridiculously over-priced cup tickets; I've attended christ knows how many away games in which, if I'm mistaken, the Pars pick up a certain amount of the revenue; I've purchased the Pars programme on a regular basis; I've endured the 'tasty' catering at East End Park for almost every single home match this season; I forked out £80 for two Pars tops last year (when I can now buy them both for about 50p) not to mention the shorts and socks aswell.

All in all I've spent a 'fair bit' on the Pars this season and all in all - including travel costs etc - it must be appoaching nigh on £1000 this season alone.

So if I were to refuse to give up the seat that I paid for at the start of the season for a union-jack clad Rangers fan then I would not be "helping the club when most needed"? Do me a favour!

Now if, and I mean if, Rangers did bring enough fans to fill the North West Stand - which, on recent showings, would be very unlikely - then why should we give up our seats. We paid for the seat and it's surely our prerogative to refuse to move. If we were to 'give up' our seat then when would this stop? Celtic, Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen all bring substantial away supports, would we be asked to move to accomodate their extra fans should they request extra seats?

How about the club, instead of giving-in to the dark lords, attempt to fill the North West stand with Pars fans. 18000 Pars fans turned up for the Scottish Cup final, they're out there! Surely an extra thousand or so can be enticed to one game to fill up a tiny wee stand.

I'm sorry but if it was simply a question of us fans in the North West Stand to decide on our fate then my answer would be 'I WILL NOT BE MOVED' every single time.

But something tells me that this decision may already have been taken regardless...