Dens Park to shut two stands for opening matches this summer

DUNDEE will have no fans in the Main Stand or South Enclosure for their three upcoming home matches.

The Dark Blues take on Hamilton Academical in their opening fixture of 2022-23 as the Premier Sports Cup gets under way on July 9.

They’ll follow that up on July 13 with a friendly against English side Blackburn Rovers, a former club of new manager Gary Bowyer.

They will then complete the League Cup group with a home clash with Angus neighbours Forfar Athletic at Dens Park on July 23.

In advertising ticket prices, the club stated home fans would be in the Bobby Cox Stand at one end of the ground while away fans will be in their usual place of the Bob Shankly Stand behind the other goal.

That will leave the other stands empty, which has angered some supporters.

The South East Section, a fan group set up last season to improve atmosphere at games, base themselves in the South Enclosure and took to social media to voice their displeasure.

Their statement read: “This obviously means it’s going to be difficult for us at the SES to do something for these games.

“(We) are really not happy about this situation at all and we would like some sort of meeting and discussion with the club.

“Dundee Football Club, if you want more and more bums on seats, you need us guys to do a job for you.

“If you want our supporters group to grow, yous (sic) surely can’t be closing off our section... it should be and needs to be open for every home game.”

All stands will be open as normal when the league campaign commences on Saturday, July 30, as Partick Thistle visit Dens Park.

Dundee open their season at home to Hamilton Accies.