The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Ogren’s Tangerine dream
● United owner eyes returns but assures fans no merger in offing
Mark Ogren insists he expects to see a return on his investment in Dundee United – but only if the club are successful and back playing their football in the Premiership.
The American businessman met the media at Tannadice yesterday for the first time since buying the club along with new sporting director Tony Asghar and managing director Mal Brannigan.
The Minnesota millionaire admits his first priority is to help United return to the top flight, with Asghar already working closely with manager Robbie Neilson identifying transfer targets for this window and the promotion push.
Longer term, Ogren not only wants to see the club back where he believes it belongs but he is prepared to spend money to ensure there will be stability and long-term success.
He said: “When we purchased the club, Robbie Neilson was already here but we felt he is the right man for the position.
“We brought Tony Asghar in as the sporting director. Tony has connections not only in European football but world football.
“He knows people and can bring people in. He will work closely with Robbie to identify the key players we need in order to get promoted.
“We brought Mal Brannigan in as managing director so he will run the business side. So essentially he will be our CEO.
“I am only going to get over here every couple of months, maybe, so we need the right people in the right places on a daily basis.
“We need boots on the ground here to make sure we are doing the right things on a regular basis.”
Ogren added: “We expect to make money. But we are not going to make money with this size of club in the Championship.
“We need to spend money in order to get promoted. Equally important, or more important, we need to stay up in the Premiership – we need sustained success here in the long term in order to be profitable and maintain that success.
“We have a plan. It starts with putting the right people in the right places that have had success in their positions.
“We absolutely feel we have the right people. Then we need to make an investment.
“But in order to make money we need to get into the Premiership – and if we can get there and stay there, we feel we can be successful.”
Some fans at both city clubs have voiced fears recently that the fact United and Dundee are now owned by Americans means it is only a matter of time before they merge.
However, Ogren strongly insisted that would not be happening while he was in charge at Tannadice.
He said: “I understand the concern. In the fans’ forum last night someone said, ‘We are passionate. Just so you know, it’s not like our favourite pub is going out of business, or our favourite grocery’.”