Dumbarton in administration: police ‘investigating some transactions’

Police have confirmed they are investigating a report of alleged fraud in relation to Dumbarton, the Scottish League One club which went into administration this week.

Ian Wright, managing director of administrators Quantuma, said on Tuesday that Sons’ administration was the result of “not receiving significant funds” due from the 2021 land sale.

They are the second Scottish League One club after Inverness Caledonian Thistle to enter administration this season.

“On Tuesday 29 October 2024, we received a report of suspected fraud at a football club in Dumbarton. Investigations are ongoing,” a Police Scotland spokesperson said.

Wright told BBC Sport Scotland: “People have told us a lot of things that a lot of people have done.

“We haven’t started looking for anything yet. We’ll just wait and see and when the noise dies down we’ll try to establish some facts.

“I know that they [police] We are investigating some transactions that were made and some documentation prior to administration.

“I don’t really know much more than that. They certainly haven’t contacted me or been able to be in contact with them yet.”

Founded in 1872, Dumbarton is one of Scotland’s oldest football clubs, winning the top flight title in the late 19th century.

Wright said that “the club had no money on Friday” and as they were in arrears with certain creditors and needed external cash to pay October salaries, the directors were “left with no option but to appoint administrators”.

Dumbarton, which is around 25% owned by fans and around 75% owned by a company called Cognitive Capital Limited, is making monthly losses and has a large loan from a lender as well as a large bill owed to a utility provider. .

However Wright, who estimated the club’s unsecured debts at £300,000, said there were no plans to make redundancies as a result of the support shown in the last 24 hours by fans.

“The club’s Trust set up a ‘GoFundMe’ page and by Wednesday night had raised enough to pay salaries for November.

“Within 24 hours of meeting the players, being able to go back to them and tell them we have the money to pay them this month was brilliant.”