SEVERAL potential investors with an interest in Dunfermline Athletic have emerged as the club continues its search for a buyer.

In August, DAFC Fussball GmbH, in a shock announcement, stated their intention to sell their stake in the football club, four years after first becoming involved at KDM Group East End Park.

This afternoon, the club have revealed that moves to find new investors are moving forward, and that they have been encouraged by the both levels of interest and the "calibre of potential investor".

They have also said that some groups have been given an opportunity to carry out "in-depth analysis" of the opportunity to take over the running of the Pars.

Dunfermline Press:

Some interested parties have now signed Non-Disclosure Agreements to allow them to take a deeper look into the possibility of taking over Athletic, which comes after DAFC Fussball GmbH appointed an "experienced football investment broker" to help find a buyer for their shareholding just over a week after they stated they would be seeking to sell.

"It is now several weeks since DAFC Fussball GmbH signalled their intention to seek new investors to take on the management and running of the football club," the Pars said in a statement.

"This process is progressing at pace and the level of interest and calibre of potential investor is encouraging. Several groups have signed Non-Disclosure Agreements to allow them to carry out in-depth analysis of the opportunity.

"We have to respect the confidentiality of these interested parties throughout this process, however, we do intend to update supporters further once we are in a position to do so as we are aware of how important this topic is to you.

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"It is important to note that DAFC Fussball GmbH, Dunfermline Athletic Football Club Ltd and Pars United CIC are working collaboratively on this process to ensure that any new investor is well positioned to build upon the strong foundations that are in place and to help realise the great potential of our club."

Hamburg-based DAFC Fussball GmbH, comprising of Thomas Meggle, Damir Keretic, Nick Teller and Dr Albrecht Gundermann, acquired 30 per cent of the club, in 2020, and initially had an option to acquire a further 45.1 per cent by no later than May 31 2022.

In the summer of 2021, it was announced the group had increased their shares by a further 45.1 per cent but, in the following January, they revised their investment which, instead of increasing their shares, saw them provide an interest-free, unsecured loan "for a sum greater than that provided for in the option agreement".

That allowed Dunfermline to progress plans to open a new training ground at Rosyth, the first phase of which was completed in April this year, and came after the club reported a loss of over £1 million in its annual accounts for the year ending May 2023.

After a difficult start to the campaign, which saw the Pars knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup in the group stage, and lose their opening two Championship matches, DAFC Fussball GmbH said that it was with "sadness and regret" that they would be putting their stake in the club up for sale.

In a lengthy statement, they said that "recent events at the club have greatly contributed to this decision being made now", and that "we have felt for a while now, probably since the middle of last season, that long term planning and putting in place the building blocks for future success is not what many are looking for".

The group added: "Over the coming weeks we and the other directors of the club shall be having discussions on the sale of our stake with some of the many parties who have approached us already over the past years and, of course, in coordination with PUCIC (Pars United Community Interest Company) who are, as of now, still the majority owners of your club.

"We have every reason to believe that there will be no shortage of interest in the club."