SO, WHO IS JOHN NELMS?

THE immediate future of Scottish football will be decided by a former East Fife trialist, whose father fitted missiles to nuclear submarines.

The SPFL’s proposal to end the season with immediate effect for the divisions below the Premiership now hinges on the decision of Dundee’s American managing director John Nelms.

He runs the Championship club on a daily basis on behalf of Tim Keyes, the Texan businessman who funded the 2013 takeover at Dens Park through his investment vehicle Keyes Capital.

And, with just one ‘yes’ vote in the Championship required to pass the governing body’s plan and Dundee yet to cast their ballot, all eyes are now on 49-year-old Nelms.

Although born in the U.S., l Nelms is no stranger to Scotland. He lived in the Argyll and Bute village of Rhu, near Helensburgh, for two years from 1978 while his father, Wesley, worked in a highly-classified role at Faslane naval base.

In a 2016 interview, Nelms revealed how the role included ‘fixing missiles to nuclear submarines’.

Always a keen footballer, l Nelms was invited for a trial with East Fife when he was studying in Chicago.

The twist of fate occurred when a friend’s dad, who hailed from Fife, spotted him produce a star turn in a University fixture. Nelms told The Mail on

Sunday in 2014: ‘I had trials over here and made £5 for one game with East Fife. I had offers to play in Indoor Soccer Leagues in the States but there was no money in it — so, I got into business.’

That business swiftly saw him l link up with friend and colleague Keyes and rise through the ranks of Keyes Capital.

However, he retained a keen interest in ‘soccer’.

Nelms was involved with the Austin Aztecs when former Everton midfielder Adrian Heath — now head coach of MLS side Minnesota United — was the manager of the Texan club.

He was also the executive director at Dynamo Juniors, which runs teams for more than 700 children in Austin and is affiliated with top-flight side Houston Dynamo.

Nelms spent a short period l shadowing senior staff at Liverpool’s academy when his family lived in Chester as he sought to sharpen his knowledge of the British game.

And he was deemed the obvious choice to take control of the Dens Park outfit when Keyes Capital — specialist investors in businesses expected to experience ‘slow growth’ — completed their takeover of Dundee in the summer of 2013.

Despite significant l investment, Dundee’s fortunes on the pitch have been varied, but Keyes and Nelms have improved the club’s training facilities, carried out numerous renovations to Dens Park and remain committed to building a new stadium near Camperdown Park.

In an interview with The Times,

Nelms added: ‘We don’t have an exit strategy. We might sell it in 10 years’ time, I don’t know.

‘Or they might plant me in the ground when I’m still here, who knows?’