JOHN YORKSTON has urged the Scottish Football Association to use its common sense and overturn the red card given to Kevin Harper (pictured) by referee Brian Winter last weekend.

However, the Dunfermline chairman says he isn’t holding out too much hope given the way the SFA handled the club’s appeal over Owen Coyle’s dismissal in a Fife derby eight years ago.

Yorkston told Courier Sport yesterday he hopes Harper can avoid a two-match ban, and confirmed the club lodged an appeal on Tuesday.

Harper was given his marching orders for what looked a perfectly ordinary challenge on Partick Thistle defender Marc Twaddle six minutes into the second half.

Winter saw it differently, however, and despite Harper’s protestations he was shown a straight red that means he will miss the games against Clyde and Livingston unless the appeal is upheld.

“We hope common sense will prevail, but we are not optimistic, based on past experience,” Yorkston said.

“The Owen Coyle incident just didn’t happen, and we had TV evidence to that effect.

“The cameras actually followed Owen around just prior to the incident, and he was nowhere near the person that supposedly got fouled.”

Yorkston revealed the Fifers found themselves in a catch-22 style situation having said Coyle wasn’t involved.

The SFA said if it was a case of mistaken identity it was up to the club to prove who committed the foul.

“They said it must be mistaken identity, but we couldn’t prove somebody else had done it,” he said.

“The linesman said he saw him lash out at the player, but how can that be the case when the incident didn’t happen?

“Nobody else was within the vicinity.

“It was totally farcical.”

Yorkston admitted he fears the same will happen this time round, but was prepared to spend the £500 to lodge an appeal on Harper’s behalf.

Dunfermline have reviewed footage of the incident, and Yorkston said he was even more convinced of the player’s innocence.

He added, “We haven’t heard anything as yet, but the appeal only went in yesterday.

“Normally the procedure is the SFA contact the referee to see if he wants to rethink it and then it could go to a committee.

“The trouble is the referees are all away in Tenerife or somewhere for a get together, so I’m not sure when we’ll hear.”

Meanwhile, it is understood Pars boss Jim McIntyre is close to agreeing terms with two players on pre-contract deals as he continues to ring the changes.