Dumbarton and Inverness Caley Thistle successfully exit administration

The Celtic Star

·15 April 2025

Dumbarton and Inverness Caley Thistle successfully exit administration

In a significant boost for Scottish football, both Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dumbarton Football Club have successfully exited administration…

Dumbarton FC, 5 June, 2021 of the Marbill Coaches Stadium. Dumbarton have joined William Hill League One rivals Inverness in administration after years of financial uncertainty relating to land deals came to a head. Issue date: Tuesday November 19, 2024. Photo Ian Rutherford

Both clubs have now secured investments that will pay off all creditors, thus stabilising their financial situation. These developments not only secures both club’s future in the Scottish Professional Football League but also saves their history and both have proud records in th Scottish game worth securing.

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The news also marks a notable recovery in the financial health of these two historic teams, promising continued participation in professional football in Scotland with both clubs maintaining their proud history.

So rival supporters will not be able to chant “Inverness Caley, YOU LET YOUR CLUB DIE”, or “You’re not Dumbarton any more”. It also saves us referring to theDumbarton or theInverness Caley Thistle in articles.

Inverness and Dumbarton are now both close to exiting administration. The clubs have found investors, meaning they will successfully exit administration once approved by the SPFL Fantastic news!
– Tuesday, 15 April 2025

The statement shown below which was posted on the official Dumbarton FC website earlier today, confirming the great news for the club, it’s supporters and indeed all of Scottish football.

The Joint Administrators of Dumbarton Football Club Limited can confirm that they have agreed Heads of Terms with Gareth Phillips on a proposal that would see the Club exit Administration solvently and with all creditors paid in full.

Fans will be aware that the Administrators have been engaged in litigation against Pendragon Group Limited of which Mr. Phillips is the principal. The full terms of the proposal are subject to confidential negotiations, however as part of the proposal, the litigation with Pendragon would be concluded on the basis Pendragon would not hold security over the Club’s assets.

Mr. Phillips would introduce sufficient funding to stabilise the trading of the Club going forward and the Administrators are required to be satisfied that there is security for cash flow and a business plan to provide support for the Club for the next 3 seasons. A non-refundable deposit has been received by the Administrators which will cover any short term trading shortfall whilst the transaction is being negotiated, until the target completion date in early May.

The Administrators will now work with Mr Phillips and his team to conclude this proposal to allow planning for next season to commence.

Celtic and Dumbarton

Celtic’s last match against Dumbarton was in the Scottish Cup at Celtic Park in January 2007 with the Hoops winning 4-0. Our last trip to Boghead was in August 1989 in the League Cup with Celtic running out 3-0 winners. The unbroken history of this fixture goes all the way back to 1891 when the clubs met at Boghead and played out a 2-2 draw.

3/9/1983 Scottish Premier League. Rangers v Celtic. Murdo McLeod of Celtic Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Dumbarton have many links with Celtic in terms of players such as Murdo MacLeod, Charlie Gallagher (what a player!) and of course fellow Lisbon Lion Willie Wallace as well as Celtic’s Iron Man Sean Fallon.

Charlie Gallagher, Celtic FC. Photo The Celtic Star

Willie Wallace, Celtic FC, Photo The Celtic Star

A pint or a half a pint?

An interesting point about Dumbarton’s unbroken history. In season 1890-91 the league had 20 matches and they finished top ahead on goals scored but level on points with Rangers. A play-off however was played and that finished 2-2 so it was decided for the one and only time that the title was shared.

If you have a pint and decide to split it into two half pint classes to share with a pal, what are you left with?

A pint or a half a pint?

Continues on the next page…

Equally positive news from the Highlands – Inverness Caley Thistle will also emerge from Administration

The Caledonian Stadium is home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club in the Scottish Highlands, Photo Imago.

This great news on Dumbarton emerging from Administration follows the equally positive news from the Highlands a few days ago that Inverness Caley Thistle would also survive.

And owner-in-waiting Alan Savage is determined to give Inverness a football club they can be proud of. Alan Savage was the Inverness chairman from 2006-2008 and was been confirmed as the preferred bidder by administrators in a press conference last Thursday, which came 13 days after his £800,000 offer.

Savage has performed the role of financial consultant throughout the most challenging of seasons after relegation from last year’s Championship – as well as ploughing in around £1million to date. He is the chief of oil and gas recruitment specialists The Orion Group explained that hard work is on the brink of paying off as administrators progress towards a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

The Caledonian Stadium is home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club in the Scottish Highlands, Photo IMAGO

“We looked at crowdfunding and lots of different ways to open doors for investment and the last door that people need to look at. When we’re out of administration there’s no reason that people can’t get involved with the football club,” Savage said as reported by Press and Journal.

“We’ve just done a big deal on signage with tens of thousands of pounds for when we come out of administration. I spoke to HIE (Highlands and Islands Enterprise) and they will help us when we’re out of administration.

“We’re out of administration – almost – with ‘i’s to be dotted, ‘t’s to be crossed so there’s no reason that all stakeholders can’t get back involved with the club. Everybody is welcome, back into the football club. Let’s demonstrate that the fifth biggest city in Scotland has got a football club in the middle of it that people are proud of and that kids attend.

“We’re bringing (Lionel) Nessie back as the mascot and trying to be proactive. I can do my bit as a businessman and I have great faith in (interim CEO) Charlie Christie, (head coach) Scott Kellacher and (director) Graeme Bennett that they can do their part – and put a good football team together, that plays good football.”

Great that Inverness are getting their CVA and that their supporters have rallied round absolutely determined not to let their club die.

Celtic and Inverness Caley Thistle

19.04.2015. Scottish Cup. Semi Final. Inverness Caledonian Thistle versus Celtic. Josh Meekings blocks Leigh Griffiths goanward bound header on the line with his hand.

Inverness Caley Thistle have been an occasional thorn in Celtic’s side ever since that night when they came to Glasgow and went Ballistic before John Barnes picked up his jotters. On reflection they did us a massive favour that night, just look at how well Celtic have done ever since.

At Celtic Park Celtic have won 18, drawn 3 and lost twice against Inverness Caley Thistle while in the Highland capital Celtic have lost five times, drawn eight and won 13 matches.

Inverness knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup in Ronny Deila’s first season at the semi-final, mainly because Alan Muir (remember him) was standing about two yards away from a deliberate hand ball to stop Leigh Griffiths doubling Celtic’s lead. Inverness went on to lift the cup.

30.05.2015. Edinburgh, Scotland. Scottish Cup Final. Falkirk versus Inverness CT. Inverness CT with the trophy

Ryan Christie of Inverness celebrates after the Scottish Cup semi final between Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Celtic at Hampden Park, Glasgow. 19 April 2015. Picture by Ian Sneddon

More recently Celtic and Inverness played out the 2023 Scottish Cup Final on a beautiful early June day at Hampden that Celtic won comfortably before both Ange Postecoglou and Jota – who has subsequently returned – left the club.

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Dumbarton and Inverness Caley Thistle successfully exit administration | OneFootball