Back to news09/07/2020
COVE Rangers super fan Ian ‘Jetto’ Yule and former players Mark Perry and Roy McBain, who both also played for Dundee United, are making a marathon effort to help raise funds to support our battle to defend our position to be promoted to League One.
The trio are doing a sponsored walk covering the 63 miles that separate Balmoral Stadium and Tannadice Park, home of Dundee United, who – like ourselves – have been dragged into a legal fight, through litigation and now arbitration, to ensure the promotion we were awarded in season 2020-21 stays in place.
Ian, Mark and Roy will set out on Friday July 17 and aim to be at Tannadice by 7pm on the Saturday.
They will be supported along the way by Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley, football director John Sheran, youth coach Gary Hake, secretary Duncan Little and a host of former players and coaches, including Kevin Tindal, Eric Watson, Roddy Black, Kevin Webster and Craig Cooper.
Fans and former players of United, who won promotion to the Premier League, and Raith Rovers, who earned promotion to the Championship, are also doing their bit in an amazing show of solidarity against what all three clubs see as an unfair penalty for being declared as worthy champions of our respective divisions last season.
Aberdeen-based electrician Ian has hardly missed a Cove game since the mid-1980s.
He said: “I’m glad to do it if it helps ensure fair play for Cove, United and Raith.
“I’m sure the majority of supporters in Scotland are as upset as I am about what has happened over the last few weeks.
“I wanted to do my bit to help the club I love cope with the costs of being dragged into a situation they never envisaged.”
Former Cove and Dons defender Mark and ex-Cove midfielder Roy, will be going step by step with Ian down the coast road between the Granite City and the City of Discovery.
The trio will set out on Friday evening, supported by club officials, who will be making the journey south by car.
Ian said: “I’m pretty fit anyway because I walk at least 15 miles every day but this will be the furthest I have attempted in one go.
“It’s great that the club have organised former players to join us on parts of the journey, I will get a big boost from that.
“But my biggest wish is that as many fans in the north-east help with the fundraising because I wouldn’t like to see Cove Rangers suffering because of all that has happened.”
The statement we released on Monday provided a detailed explanation of the situation we currently find ourselves.
Ourselves, United and Raith have already incurred over £50,000 in legal costs and these costs could escalate to over £150,000 by the time arbitration concludes.
As also mentioned in the statement, the clubs intended running a crowdfunding campaign to try and raise some funds to support the legal costs involved in this case.
It’s heartening to see that, since then, the fans have taken matters into their own hands.
United supporters Paul McNicoll and Andy Crichton got the ball rolling by setting up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money.
They are planning to walk from Tynecastle to Tannadice on Saturday 18th July to highlight the situation that Dundee United finds itself in, with all monies raised being donated to the Club’s legal fund.
Raith Rovers fans will walk from Stark’s Park in Kirkcaldy to Tannadice on the same day.
Ian, Mark and Roy plan to meet them at the ground around 7pm and all three groups hope that they can raise a bumper sum to help meet some of the costs of our legal fight.
There will be an event at Tannadice to welcome them on their arrival on the Saturday evening.
The fund raising event will have to comply with all current social distancing regulations and be restricted to invited guests with tickets but we hope to get as many supporters as possible in attendance to celebrate their efforts.
We would like to thank Ian, Mark and Roy and all of those who are planning to take part for their generosity, it is greatly appreciated.
We would also like to thank all of those who have already contributed so far to their crowdfunding efforts, which has included many fans of other clubs.
They have shown support to this cause, highlighting the impact this case is having on the whole of Scottish football. We hope the more people can make contributions.
You can support Ian’s marathon trek by donating at the following link: gf.me/u/yfunxy
