Airdrie thrown out of cup

The only football being played at Airdrie's ground

Airdrieonians have been kicked out of the Scottish Cup.

Provisional liquidators KPMG told the Scottish Football Association that the club could not fulfil Saturday's fourth-round tie against Peterhead.

And KPMG say that the club could have less than two weeks to live unless a new buyer can be found.

They decided that they could not fulfil the fixture against Peterhead after the SFA had refused to postpone the tie.

The SFA had offered to mediate in order to find a solution.

Gate money

But KPMG say that they needed a long-term solution, not a short-term fix to the problems of the club.

They therefore decided to forgo the £10,000 due from sponsors, half the gate money and the prospect of a place in the quarter-final draw.

It has also emerged that only six players will remain in contract after midnight on Saturday.

Airdrie remain in the Scottish League, but the lack of players places the club's longer-term future in doubt.

Offer not taken up

The present crisis follows the termination of Steve Archibald's management contract earlier in the week.

SFA chief executive David Taylor described Airdrie's dismissal from the Scottish Cup as a "sad day for Scottish football".

Alex Taylor and Antonio Calderon continue training

"The emergency committee this morning set a deadline of 5pm today for KPMG, the administrators of Airdrieonians FC, to give a written commitment that the club would play tomorrow's tie in the Tennent's Scottish Cup," he said.

"KPMG have not provided a commitment by the deadline to play this tie as scheduled.

"Similarly, the SFA's offer to mediate was not taken up.

"It is with much regret, therefore, that I have to confirm that Airdrieonians' fourth-round Tennent's Scottish Cup tie against Peterhead will not now take place and that the tie has been awarded to Peterhead.

"This unprecedented step is necessary to protect the integrity of the Scottish Cup competition.

"The SFA will, of course, continue to work to assist the club and I remain hopeful that the club's future can still be secured."

The SFA had offered to help broker a deal to ensure that the cup tie went ahead as scheduled.

Could still play

KPMG have warned that the club's very future is under severe threat after Archibald had his contract terminated for failing to meet payment deadlines.

Blair Nimmo looks distraught

They said that Archibald needed to be in touch with them to confirm that the players he had brought to the club would be available to play.

But it appears that no contact was made.

Archibald claimed that the club could still play the tie as it had players and coaches available without his presence.

A KPMG spokesman said: "The interim liquidators of Airdrie tonight announced that former preferred bidder Steve Archibald has not addressed any of the concerns which were raised in their communications of Wednesday this week.

"As of 5pm today, the club therefore does not have the necessary infrastructure to enable Saturday's match against Peterhead to proceed.

"A request was made to the Scottish Football Association for postponement of the match to allow further time to explore other options.

Matter of urgency

"However, this was refused.

"Airdrie, as a club, still however remains in the league.

"This means that Airdrie could still fulfil its remaining fixtures this season providing a new deal is struck with a suitable preferred bidder.

"However, time is clearly running out and any interested parties should make direct contact with KPMG as a matter of urgency."