Pars 'would survive relegation'

Dunfermline Athletic chairman John Yorkston admits relegation would cost at least £1m - but insists the Fife club are strong enough to survive.
And he has backed manager Davie Hay to haul them to safety after slipping to joint-bottom of the SPL.

"It's impossible to say at this minute exactly how much we would lose, but I would estimate £1m from not playing in the Scottish Premier League," he said.

"But we're in a better position than we would have been a few years ago."

Yorkston pointed out that money from public use of their artificial surface - and other facilities like conferences and banqueting - had boosted income compared to previous seasons.

But Yorkston he added: "I am positive that the manager and the players will turn this around."

He argues that Hay has been severely hampered by injuries, with Scotland midfielder Barry Nicholson the latest to be ruled out for the rest of the season.

"It has been impossible for the manager this season and the problems are still there," he said.

"We went to Parkhead a few weeks ago and couldn't fill the bench.

"It has been a combination of things which has cost us, with injuries and various other decisions going against us.

"We have lost a couple of players during the year, but everybody's doing everything in their power to stay up.

"I have plenty of sympathy with the manager, but we're due a bit of luck."

Relegation rivals Dundee United and Livingston both won on Saturday.

But Yorkston believes that striker Georgi Hristov, who made his first start in Sunday's narrow defeat by Rangers, would make a difference.

"He did well and, hopefully, he will be our ace for the last five games," he said.

Defender Scott Wilson believes that the Pars can survive if they can repeat their performance against his title-chasing former club, who were given a fright after an early goal.

"A performance like that is going to be needed in the next five cup finals that are coming up," he said.