Dame Jackie Baillie speaking up for the Sons fans to keep football alive in Dumbarton.
Pictures by Jon Leino
By Bill Heaney
The owners of Dumbarton Football Club have revealed plans for a new stadium have been scrapped for good. And the band played Believe It If You Like.
In a statement given to the Lennox Herald, Cognitive Capital director Clive Hyman said “there are no plans to relocate” but said that developing housing on the club’s current Castle Road site is vital to the Sons’ future.
The truth of the matter is that the Sons don’t have another home to go to, and that the Young’s farm site on Renton Road was a non starter from the outset.
And that Sons wouldn’t kick another ball if this housing plan for their car park goes ahead.
Mr Hyman rejected claims by MSP Jackie Baillie that the group – who bought the club in May 2021 – were chasing a “get-rich pipe dream”, saying “it is in nobody’s interest that the football club should stagnate”.
Mr Hyman has also revealed plans for an artificial pitch at The Rock as part of a community sports base.
Mr Hyman, whom we are told is a corporate finance specialist from London who was appointed to the board of Sons’ owners Cognitive Capital in October, is said to have “spoken out” in the Scottish Parliament after Jackie Baillie raised concerns about the ownership structure of the club.
“That would have meant moving the club from its existing ground to release it for an upmarket housing development. There were real concerns about the club’s future and whether this was a case of asset stripping.
“We must come together for our communities and clubs to guarantee that public interest is at the forefront of football ownership, that Scottish football is run for the benefit of the people and that accountability can flourish.”
In 2021 the Sons were bought by Cognitive Capital, an investment group headed by Norwegian businessman Henning Kristoffersen.
At the time, the group said they had ambitions to transition to full-time football and make the Sons “a stable Championship club.”
Instead they continue to refer to themselves on their website as as a semi-professional outfit when most of us still believed they were a professional team with a proud history.
They must have stolen their communications strategy from Nicola Sturgeon’s Secret Scotland portfolio.
In it they admit a lack of communication with supporters and say that they will be working to launch a community trust based at The Rock.
The statement said: “We acknowledge that there has been a lack of communication in the past between supporters and the ownership group, but we are surprised at her accusations of “venture capitalists seeking to asset strip”.
“This is most certainly not the case.
“Cognitive Capital is made up of football fans and includes shareholders who have strong family ties to Dumbarton. It has been our genuine hope and intention that we can bring the stability and certainty that the fans seek.
“It is in nobody’s interest that the football club should stagnate, and it is therefore being led in new directions – we, as owners, are very supportive of this.”
“Dumbarton Football Club’s chairperson and vice chairperson have made the Sonstrust aware that there are no plans to relocate and have told them of the plan, in partnership with a new community trust, to develop facilities which will improve access to fitness and sport for all, with particular emphasis on disadvantaged groups.
“Integral to this is the replacement of the current playing surface with an artificial one which can be used seven days a week by the whole community.
“The funding of this project will necessarily be pump-primed by the proceeds of the planned housing development adjacent to the stadium.
“The proceeds from a successful property development will go to the club and enable development of the stadium’s facilities.”
Agents working on behalf of Cognitive formally submitted plans for nine new houses and 40 apartments on land to the north and east of the ground that is currently used for car parking last year.
When the Renton planning application went in, Sonstrust chair David Brownlee said: “Bluntly, were this application to be granted it will almost certainly result in a very damaging outcome for the future prospects of Dumbarton Football Club.”
The Sonstrust want ongoing talks with all the parties involved conducted in an open and transparent manner.
Simon Barrow of the Scottish Football Supporters Association, co-authored the Rebuilding Scottish Football report which triggered the debate, and is a former associate director at Castle Road.
He told the Lennox Herald: “The chaotic and destabilising ownership situation at Dumbarton is one of a number which would not have happened if there was independent scrutiny of who owns and run Scottish football.
“In the case of the Sons, there are a number of individuals currently exploring the possibilities of community focussed ownership. That will remain private until there is a definite proposal.
“Protecting the future of this historic club has to be the priority. Yet more emollient statements, claims to be listening, promises of jam tomorrow and offers of further meetings will not suffice.
“But there is enormous potential with owners who really care about Dumbarton FC.”
Does the Cognitive Capital ownership mean that the A & B shares purchased by fans are worthless or are CC going to buy out the shareholders or reinstate Trust ownership of the Club?
Remember the old ‘golden share’ Allan? I was a director of the Community Stadium Company. It’s still in existence. I resigned from it. It was a complete waste of time. Why can’t Dumbsrton proceed in a similar manner to Wrexham and now Hibs?has anyoneeven asked David Byrne if he might be interested? You can’t hv a football stadium without a car park. The board’s plan to make the Rock car park a housing development wd mean the team hvg to fold. There is no ambition to play football, win matches and move ip the leagues the way Rangers did. We need people whonwant to make Sons the Third Force in Scottish Football.