Jim can't fix it yet

"We had investors in place but they have expressed concerns and we are trying to answer these questions.They have concerns and really it is back in Gavin Masterton's hands just now."

Jim Leishman spoke to the media on Friday 22 March when he came out of a meeting with the playing staff.  He gave an update:-

"The current situation is that we have another meeting tomorrow with the Steering Group and we will find out tomorrow about the due diligence.  We will receive the information from the independent company today and discuss it tomorrow with the Steering Group.  We had investors in place but they have expressed concerns and we are trying to answer these questions. They have concerns and really it is back in Gavin Masterton's hands just now."

Expanding continued:-

"They are individual concerns and I wouldn't want to discuss them. There are questions that they want answered and hopefully we can find out as quickly as possible the answers to these questions.  We have terms that we are trying to discuss and we have made huge progress with Gavin Masterton amongst the group but there are things that crop up. We have got to speak with the Steering Group tomorrow and speak to Gavin Masterton.

"It is quite a delicate situation just now, and people are saying this and that but we have got to make sure that we have in place a long term sustainable future for Dunfermline. Short term we had finances in place but other things cropped up so people have said they will wait and see.

"Gavin Masterton is the owner of the Club and he is in charge of the situation now. We will speak to him tomorrow and say 'this is where we are at - over to you'."

Jim Leishman made it clear that the solution is on the shoulders of Gavin Masterton and he maintained that it has done all along:-

"Gavin Masterton is the major shareholder, so he is in charge of the situation. He has been talking to people, he has been getting advice and rightly so, and he is trying to take it forward."

But would the match against Dumbarton be Dunfermline Athletic's last he was asked?

"I would hope not.  Everyone wants a future for Dunfermline Football club.We are still trying very hard to get an answer to that. It might take two or three days and hopefully we can get a long term solution.

"The football players have been great, Jim Jefferies, Gerry McCabe, they have all been great.They are frustrated just now, they all have families, mortgages, bills to pay the same as everyone. I think they are wee bit annoyed at certain circumstances, but they have been focussed, they are trying to do their best.The Dunfermline fans have been magnificent and have got behind the team.The team has been getting beat sometimes and they have been applauded off the park by the fans, knowing the situation and what they are trying to do."

"HMRC have made it clear that Monday is the deadline, which is hard.  Not for them but it's the lack of time that the Steering Group have. The Purvis Group have been great, they helped out last September/October and got us so far.  All the members of the Steering Group are Dunfermline fans, they all want the best for Dunfermline Athletic Football Club and so do a lot of people.  The other groups are Dunfermline Athletic supporters wanting the best for the Club.Our problem is trying to get everyone together moving forward."

Is administration an option if that deadline to pay HMRC £134,000 cannot be met?

"Again, it is up to Gavin Masterton. We are not in control of that situation. We had short term funding in place and then people expressed concerns. We weren't brought into this to find a short term solution. We were in here looking for a long term sustainable solution to the Football Club. That is our aim and objective and right now we are still waiting.

"I'm sure we can get the answers short term because there is a lot of good loyal fans out there but we are not wanting to take their money and three weeks down the line they have lost that money.  We want to make sure that if I stand and say 'we have a future here, give us your £10 or whatever' that is going to give us a long term future.

"I speak to Gavin and Karen Masterton mostly, but not every day. My concern just now is the Steering Group. Any questions that we need we have to go to the owner, who is Gavin Masterton."

Leish said that he wouldn't like to speculate on what the due diligence would reveal but added the results of that would be known later in the day. The Football Club will survive in some shape or form Leish assured and he will continue to fight for his great passion.

"It's not just to the end of the season - it's the long term sustainability. It's the future. We have got an U20 team playing in the semi final of the Youth Cup on Sunday - a great achievement.  Well done to Stephen Wright and to the coaches, John Potter for getting these guys through. We have a great youth system sponsored by Black & White, Craig McWhirter and they have done great.  We are fighting for their future as well, so we are wanting a long term sustainability not just the short term. It's only eight weeks to the end of the season, so that is short term in my head."