AGM Report

Dunfermline Athletic held their Annual General Meeting in the Kingdom Suite at East End Park on Tuesday 15th January. The audited accounts for season 2006-07 were presented and approved.

Dunfermline Athletic held their Annual General Meeting in the Kingdom Suite at East End Park on Tuesday 15th January. The audited accounts for season 2006-07 were presented and approved. The Club were fortunate that by reaching the Scottish Cup Final they had virtually achieved a breakeven position.

Questions on the accounts focussed on the wages to turnover ratio. Chief Executive Bill Hodgins said that this stood at 50% last season but because of the horrendous injury list this season, had crept up to 56%. The Chief Executive forecast that by the end of January this might be down to 47%. He said that Danny Murphy's loan deal that is due to end on 27th of this month will not be extended.

Asked on how confident the Board were that they could meet their commitments next season if they did not get promoted, it was explained that 75% of the playing staff would be out of contract if the club remained in the First Division. Bill Hodgins said that would give some flexibility to address costs and meet payments.

Off the park the Club's achievements for last season were listed:-
*Introduced Season Ticket swipe cards (slight hiccups acknowledged)
*Relocated Ticket Office and Admin Staff to improve efficiency and reduce costs
*New Sponsorship package with CCW Legal for the Away Stand
*Hosted the Junior Cup Final
*Established United Pars Fans Forum

Off the park the achievements in Season 2007-08 were:-
*Retained and enhanced Youth football for all age groups and awarded the SFA Performance Youth Initiative
*Relocated Club Shop to East End Park
*Increased Season Ticket sales and suite membership
*Incorporated hospitality business of Dunfermline Stadia Management to reduce administration and improve efficiency
*Introduced premium kit brand with Adidas, and Puma for 2008-09

The Chief Executive explained that this season's finances would be much more difficult:-"We've lost the revenue that we have come to expect from people like Celtic and Rangers." The £250,000 parachute payment from the SPL in this current season helps but is important that just over half of the club's income is coming from non football activities:- Hospitality, Hall of Fame, Burns Suppers and sponsorships from the likes of the Purvis Group.

It has been customary for the Team Manager to attend the AGM but Jim McIntyre tendered his apologies since he felt it important that he watched Saturday's opponents, St Johnstone knocking Raith Rovers out the Scottish Cup with a 3-1 win at McDiarmid Park. Nevertheless there was a discussion on football matters.

Commenting on the 18 players who were out of contract at the end of the season, Jim Leishman was able to say that discussion were ongoing with Jim McIntyre and that the Manager was identifying players that he would like to bring in. John Yorkston added that at the end of 2007 the Club had 31 playing staff yet clubs like Dundee and St Johnstone were operating with between 22 and 24 players. He would like to see a playing staff of 25. Nick Phinn, Scott McBride, Calum Woods and Scott Muirhead had been approached to extend their contracts.

Questioned on bonuses it was revealed that win bonuses are not paid by Dunfermline in the First Division this season. At the beginning of the season a sizeable win bonus had been agreed for winning the league and bonuses had been set dependant on progress in cup competitions.