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Dunfermline team accept salary cuts to keep club afloat

Lisa Gray
Wednesday 18 February 2004 01:00 GMT
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Dunfermline's manager, Jimmy Calderwood, has praised his players for accepting wage cuts that should keep the club out of administration.

The East End Park dressing-room unanimously accepted cuts ranging from 10 to 30 per cent in order to avoid the Pars following Motherwell, Dundee and Livingston into the hands of the administrators. All senior players also vetoed a move which would have seen young players at the club affected by the salary decreases.

The bank threatened to pull the plug on the Fife club unless they had answers from the players yesterday on whether they would agree to the offer.

Some agreed longer contracts while only Stevie Crawford took up the offer of a shortened contract. The Scotland striker may move on at the end of the season, despite only last year signing a new deal to remain at the Fifers for a further three years.

However, Calderwood is delighted that the threat of administration has now been removed from the club and has not ruled out Crawford staying.

"It is great news for everyone at the club. Full credit to the boys for accepting it and keeping the standards up," he said. "They are a great bunch of lads, but everyone had to look at it individually, which is why it took a little longer than we expected. The biggest thing is that this club is going to be here in the future. OK, you may have to make some sacrifices but it looks like the club is safe and that is the most important thing."

Players will forfeit win and appearance bonuses until the end of the season as part of the cuts.

Calderwood said it would be a blow if Crawford decided to leave, but remained hopeful he would not. "The way it is looking at the moment, Stevie has the option to go and look at what he wants himself, but he is the only one. No disrespect to Stevie or any players but the most important thing just now is the club."

The players were unanimous in their decision according to the goalkeeper, Derek Stillie. He said: "We had a choice, there was no gun to our head. Dunfermline has been here for 100 years and the club is more important than us, we are just passing through. Hopefully, it will be here for another 100 years."

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