For lovers of football in Scotland and beyond the news that Dunfermline Athletic have been saved from liquidation will come as welcome relief.

The celebratory note will be all the sweeter because the new owners of the Fifers are the fans themselves.

It’s impossible to overstate the community aspect. In an age of avarice and uncertainty across the professional game the club have found the most welcome mooring in the shape of the Pars United consortium who will now move to take Dunfermline out of administration.

There had been times when this notion of a homely buyout straight off the streets seemed unlikely to pass muster in the face of the winding-up order served on Athletic. Insiders have now confirmed that they too had shared such fears.

Gone are the last six months of nail-biting uncertainty triggered by an unpaid tax bill of nearly £140,000.

That may not seem like a vast sum in football today but was nevertheless substantial enough to cause real concern over the future of the 128-year-old institution.

There had been something deeply unsettling about seeing the Pars in such a tight spot.

Perhaps this was connected with the faded glamour of the 1960s when they were associated with success in the Scottish Cup and thrilling performances in Europe.

Something of that stardust remains, even at this distance. But the celebrated former player, manager and part-time poet Jim Leishman is hardly romanticising when he speaks of recent events being comparable with any victory in Dunfermline’s long history.

Leishman, a member of the new interim board, is also right to point out that — after a 15-point deduction and relegation from the old First Division — “the journey is not complete” and it may be a long and winding road back to where they wish to be.

At least they are now free to dream again at East End Park, and there is a wider benefit to this tale than the mere warmth of sentimental glow.

In successfully dealing with acute financial troubles Dunfermline offer not only hope but a template for similarly afflicted others to work from.

Boardroom bloodshed means no end in sight to Ibrox instability

It may very well be a mug’s game predicting the next turn of events at Ibrox, for the wildest of imaginings have proved possible over the past 18 months. However, dear reader, only a week ago I suggested that “more blood will yet be spilled” in the boardroom.

I make no claim to be any kind of prophet but later that same day the Rangers directors were reduced to a double act by the resignation of chief executive Craig Mather and director Bryan Smart.

There was claret all over the place after shareholders seeking changes on the board forced the postponement of the AGM.

Now, while not wishing to spend a good part of this column blethering about Rangers, it’s impossible to avert one’s gaze from such a train wreck of a story.

So where next for this skeletal PLC board of Brian Stockbridge and James Easdale, caught in the crosshairs of rivals and angry fans — such as the Sons of Struth group — who are at last making their voices heard in this saga?

Stability — and we cannot say this often enough — is everything. Without some sense of sanity and steady leadership every potential sponsor, partner and investor will seriously question the wisdom of going anywhere near Ibrox.

Quite understandably there is an expectation among the fans and in the wider game that Rangers will soon return to a position of real power. There is no God-given right to that status, mind you.

Sheffield Wednesday, one of the solid silver names of the English game, have for too many years been out of touch with the runaway success of the Premier League. This is thanks largely to financial turmoil which badly damaged their brand.

Think then of what Rangers adviser Paul Shackleton describes as a “minefield” — a club with no functioning group of directors in any real sense, operating losses of £14m and which is unable as yet to organise a full shareholders gathering.

Sadly you too do not require great powers of foresight to predict yet more “crisis at Ibrox” headlines.

Ticket sales point to roaring success at Glasgow 2014

There seems to be no let-up in the demand for Commonwealth Games tickets next summer, I’m pleased to say.

From 10 o’clock this morning phones and laptops will no doubt be red hot again as those who nabbed some in the first sale will be able to get more for the Glasgow extravaganza of sport.

If Monday and Tuesday’s sales are anything to go by, with people waiting up to an hour to book online, the take-up rate will be high again.

All of this comes on the back of 2.3 million initial requests for tickets.

Have the Commonwealth Games ever been so popular? I very much doubt it.

There is a knock-on effect here from the success of London’s Olympics, coupled with more reasonable ticket prices.

But a determination clearly exists among many fans to make next summer truly one to remember.

Follow Douglas Beattie on Twitter

Agree with Douglas? Tell us what you think of this article. Write to us at [email protected]