The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Spence says it may be time for clubs to merge
exclusive: Pundit says the link-up would mean a better set-up to challenge bigger clubs
Former Dundee United consultant and renowned pundit Jim Spence has risked the wrath of two sets of football supporters – by saying it may be time for the city’s two clubs to merge.
Writing in today’s Courier, the veteran sports reporter said the current two-team set up is preventing either Dundee or Dundee United from challenging Scotland’s bigger clubs.
He said: “In a city of 160,000 souls, a third the size of Edinburgh, and with 70,000 fewer folk than Aberdeen, both Dundee and United face an unequal and losing battle trying to compete at the top end of the Scottish game.
“A unified city side playing at a custom built new stadium would allow joint investment and sponsorship from the business community, and stop the slow lingering descent into football irrelevance.”
It is not the first time the idea of merging the two clubs has been mooted.
In 2015, former SPL chief Roger Mitchell said the two clubs had just been days away from amalgamation in 1999.
A new name, badge and strip had been registered with the league before Dundee’s then owner Jimmy Marr got cold feet and pulled the plug on the deal.
Meanwhile, a leading Dundee United fans’ group has quit the club’s supporters’ liaison group in a bitter row over information about the team’s finances.
A message posted on The Federation of Dundee United Supporters’ Club’s Facebook page on Thursday night said it had tried and failed four times to arrange a question and answer session with Tannadice chairman Stephen Thomson about his plans for United.
The organisation posted its resignation email to the club on Facebook.
It read: “It is with deep regret we write to inform you the Federation of Dundee United Supporters’ Clubs wish to tender our resignation from the liaison group.
“This decision has been a difficult one. The continued refusal of the chairman to firstly meet our members, then the federation committee, has angered a large number of our members who are becoming more and more disillusioned.
“For the chairman of DUFC to agree to meet The Fed Committee and answer members’ questions, request those questions in advance, then refuse to meet has left many totally bewildered.”
Jim Spence was recruited by United last year to ease tensions between the club and its supporters. He left his post after just nine months in January.
Dundee United said the door remains open to the federation to return.
A statement on the club website said: “While disappointed, the federation has removed itself from the main communication vehicle for all supporters’ groups, the operation of the supporters’ liaison committee remains unaffected.
“The Supporters’ Liaison Group was formed to give all Dundee United supporters the opportunity to communicate on a regular basis with the club on a wide range of matters in a structured environment and the club is delighted that organisations such as ARABTRUST, Dundee United Business Club, United Ladies of Tannadice and independent supporter representation remain engaged in a constructive dialogue with the club.”