Dunfermline chairman Bob Garmory says no thought was given to turning the club into a part-time one despite failing to win promotion this season.
Over 8,000 fans packed into East End Park last Sunday, with the vast majority hoping the Pars could overcome local rivals Cowdenbeath in the play-off final.
Instead, it all went horribly wrong for Dunfermline who slumped to a 3-0 loss, a result which ensured they will once again be playing in League One next season.
That is a financial hammer blow for the Pars as if they had secured a place in the Championship, they could have looked forward to lucrative games against Rangers, Hearts as well as derbies with Raith Rovers and Falkirk.
However, when asked if consideration had been given to going part-time, Garmory stressed: “No it wasn’t. We made a commitment to the management and investors when we took over that if we ran a tight ship, we would be able to have two seasons of full-time football.
“If we have yet another year stuck in the same division after next season, then it is more than likely that we would have to go part-time.
“However, it was never in doubt that we would stay full-time for at least the next campaign. Fair play to the management team for sticking by the club but it was always on the understanding that there was a two-year programme in place.”
He added: “It goes without saying that we were very disappointed to lose to Cowdenbeath but they were the better side on the day.
“However, this season we have come out of administration, secured second place in the league and competed well in the play-offs.
“It was also an incredible turnout at East End Park. I believe there is a huge untapped reservoir of goodwill to the club.
“In the last few years, the fans have maybe become disconnected from the club but they are starting to show again.
“Hopefully we can grow this young team and win promotion for them.”
While remaining full-time was assured, there is still some uncertainty over the futures of players at the club.
Callum Morris and Stephen Husband have already left while Danny Grainger has yet to commit and there are even doubts over those still under contract such as Josh Falkingham and Andy Geggan.
However, Garmory is hoping that few if any others will decide to leave the club.
He said: “When (manager) Jim Jefferies negotiated with the players last season to extend their deals it was on the understanding that if we didn’t go up they could move on if they felt they would be better off elsewhere.
“If they did though we would at least be entitled to some form of recompense.
“However, we are very hopeful that we can hold onto them. We are not offering a king’s ransom but we feel it is reasonable and better than what many other teams in this division could pay.
“The players have every right to weigh up their options but they are all held in the highest regard by myself.
“To take Andy Geggan as just one example. He suffered kidney damage in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against Stranraer but got out of his hospital bed to score the goals in the second leg that took us through to the final. Nobody could ever question their commitment to the club.
“We have given them the opportunity to look elsewhere but they all seem to like playing at Dunfermline. Hopefully, they will decide to stay.”
Garmory said veteran boss Jefferies took the hammer blow loss to Cowdenbeath personally.
However, the former Hearts and Kilmarnock manager has bounced back and is already working hard on winning promotion next season.
Garmory said: “Jim is a determined individual and has a great passion for the game … as linesmen and referees throughout the country would no doubt tell you.
“Jim was very down on Sunday night after what was a bad defeat and he obviously fully understood the ramifications for the club and players.
“He wasn’t feeling sorry for himself but he felt he had let them down along with the fans. He maybe felt Sunday into Monday, ‘Do I need this?’
“However, we have now had two board meetings, we have discussed Jim’s points and we are now talking about his plans for the future.”
Garmory and the rest of the Pars board will also be staying in place for next season, though he is still facing a battle on the home front with his wife Anne over exactly how long an “interim” appointment lasts.
He said: “The board feel we have a lot of hard work to do and there are still unresolved issues we would like to tackle.
“We offered to stand again en block to Pars United and we are determined to get the club really well run. From a personal point of view, I am still trying to agree on the definition of interim with my wife.
“She seems to be the only one bringing ‘sack the board’ posters to games! Seriously though, I do believe we are a sleeping giant of Scottish football.
“We have no divine right to succeed but I look at a well-run club like St Johnstone and would love to replicate their success, or bring great young talent through like Dundee United.
“We just want to be a well-run club, with good foundations and connections to the fans, local businesses and the community in general.”