Stadia rocks Scottish football

Last week’s news that Stadia Properties – a subsidiary of Stadia Investment Group – had slipped into administration is casting deep shadows over the futures of the football clubs linked with the company.

Last Sunday, players at Dunfermline football club were called into their East End Park stadium – owned by Stadia – and told they will face pay cuts in order to keep the club in business.

Yesterday, players at Livingston football club were to learn whether they would still have a job at the end of the week. According to former chair, Dominic Keane, up to 10 players could be made redundant.

However, Livingston players will be hoping they will fare better than the players at Dundee or Motherwell.

Last November, Dundee – following its fall into the hands of receivers – released 15 players, while Motherwell was forced to cut its squad by 19 the season before.

It is not only the Scottish teams that are left in limbo by the downfall of Stadia – Northern Irish club, Ards, currently sixth in the Irish League and without a permanent stadium, is wondering whether it will ever see work begin on its new home site at Castlereagh Park.

The club had agreed a contract with Stadia and work was expected to start around Easter. If the club fails to provide proof that the project will still go ahead, it could lose its Premier League status at the end of the season.