Dundee FC’S debt of over £30,000 to Tayside Police, incurred when the club went into administration, has been written off.
On Monday the finance sub-committee of Tayside Joint Police Board accepted there was no prospect of the money being recovered. The debt was due to the force as payment for the policing of matches at Dens Park.
The situation was acknowledged by councillors as was confirmation that, since going into administration, Dundee FC have been paying their policing bills upfront.
A report to the sub-committee explained that there were invoices regarded as unlikely to be recovered and in the period concerned there were £649.47 worth related to charges for the securing of premises.
Due to their nature they were difficult to collect normally because the debtor becomes untraceable and letters to them are often returned marked “gone away.”
Most of the sum £31,558 related to Dundee FC, which entered administration in October last year. The police board had previously marked this sum to be written off and since then the club has reached a voluntary arrangement with creditors, who will receive six pence in the pound.
There is a period of appeal but it is expected that recovery will be on that basis and the amount recommended for write-off, into which VAT is calculated, has been adjusted. The finance sub-committee agreed to write off the debts, with the sum being removed totalling £30,375.86.
Councillor Archie MacLellan said afterwards, “We noted that agreement has been reached with Dundee FC that for the policing of matches at Dens Park we get the money up front. Once Dundee FC come out of administration we will meet their new directors to secure an agreement for the future payment of policing their games.”