Cull begins at Dunfermline

Dunfermline have laid off eight senior players as the club's administrator fights to keep the club in business.

Bryan Jackson of PKF - appointed following Dunfermline's failure to pay a ?134,000 tax bill - has warned of "brutal" cuts to keep the Scottish Division One club afloat.

Jackson held meetings with staff and the Scottish PFA inside East End Park on Thursday and news emerged of redundancies for three youth players and eight first-teamers - among them captain Jordan McMillan.

McMillan wrote on his Twitter page: "The news is true i have been made redundant with immediate effect but loved my time at club as captain. Hope boys do well rest of season."

Winger Joe Cardle and forward Andy Barrowman are also among those looking for new clubs.

The administrator will also get loaned pair Paddy Boyle and Paul Willis off the wage bill, firstly by attempting to get Gateshead and East Fife respectively to pay their full wages, while another two players have still to negotiate.

Jackson said: "Players can make counter-proposals if they wish on their own situation and it's open to debate.

"Some of it is quite straightforward in that you know we have a problem with the highest earners. We don't have the cash - it's just not there."

Fewer than 3,000 turned up for Wednesday's home defeat to Falkirk, an alarming figure given Jackson's insistence only outside money can keep the Pars going until the summer.