DEPARTURE OF ITALIAN SIGNALLED END OF ERA

Ivano Bonetti later said it was he – and not the Dundee board – who decided that the time was right for him to go and insisted: “Peter Marr did not sack anyone.”

Marr later criticised Ivano for his lack of regard for the Scottish game. He said the Italian’s time as a player in Italy’s top flight had affected his attitude and subdued youth development at Dens.

Jim Duffy took the Dundee job and said he was inheriting a really good squad which he bolstered with the signings of Nacho Novo and Jonay Hernandez. The Bonetti era was over.

Marr said he was convinced things would change for the better under Duffy who brought in a new set of rules. When he said no to jeans, one foreign player said he didn’t own trousers and was told in no uncertain terms to get out and buy a pair.

Duffy was asked to operate on a tight budget, but, with many of the Bonetti squad still around – and on big wages – the debt continued to mount.

Duffy led Dundee to a top-six finish and the Scottish Cup final in his first season before the board was controversially increased to include Giovanni di Stefano.

The policy of big signings returned including Fabrizio Ravanelli but it all went wrong in spectacular fashion and Dundee was plunged into administration.

Fifteen players were sacked, Nacho Novo, Gavin Rae and Julian Speroni had to be sold and a handful of first-team men who’d survived the initial cull subsequently quit.

The days of big wages and superstar names are gone now at Dens Park. Daring to dream came at a price but Dundee fans will never forget the big-spending rollercoaster ride which eventually came off the rails.