Business Club responds

THE Dundee United Business Club (DUBC) has sought to clarify its position amid a row with United over historic memorabilia stored at Tannadice.

United sporting director Tony Asghar released a statement earlier this week in which he criticised “disrupters” for spreading “rumours and allegations” about his conduct among the Tangerines support.

Asghar described as “unfounded and false” a social media suggestion that he had snubbed a table of Dundee United legends at Walter Smith’s memorial service at Ibrox.

He also rubbished rumours that former players had been told by the club to take back memorabilia – such as football shirts and caps – that had been loaned to the club for display at Tannadice.

The DUBC is the overseer of said memorabilia, some of which has been returned to former players including Paul Sturrock, Paul Hegarty and David Narey, albeit not at the club’s insistence.

The Business Club said in a statement: “Recently DUBC were approached by the ex-players (all United legends) to ascertain the whereabouts of these items (their Scotland shirts).

“It was confirmed to them that they were held securely by DUBC within Tannadice and, shortly thereafter, a request was then received from them to DUBC to return these items to the individuals concerned.

“A satisfactory handover of the aforementioned items took place following the recent Dundee United/ Aberdeen game.

“We are more than satisfied we acted appropriately and in accordance with the legends’ wishes”.

The Business Club also responded to claims by United’s sporting director that members, having been offered access to Tannadice in certain time slots to complete an inventory of museum items, informed the club that none of the offered slots were suitable.

It said: “DUBC offered to attend any day Monday to Friday from 10am onwards during daylight hours during to undertake this task.

“The inventory work actually commenced on Wednesday October 20.”