Extreme Football Forum  |  Football Forums  |  Scottish Football  |  Topic: Dens face admin.

By Jim Spence 


Dundee appear 99% certain to go into administration after the football club failed to pay players and staff outstanding wages on Tuesday.

It appears that only a late injection of cash from benefactor Calum Melville will prevent administration for the second time in seven years.

The Division One club are discussing a £350,000 debt with the tax authorities.

And former chairman Bob Brannan is set to write an open letter to fans blaming Melville for the club's plight.

Dundee failed to pay salaries last Thursday, but paid half of the wages due to players on Wednesday morning.

But, ahead of the news of splits emerging within the Dundee boardroom, Player's union chief executive Fraser Wishart said: "Our opinion is that the club has fundamentally breached the players' contracts.

"Why is there money in the bank and yet the club can't pay the wages? That's the fundamental question that hasn't been answered.

"We have advised the players to continue to train, but there will come a time when players can't justify training because of the costs involved."

Team manager Gordon Chisholm revealed that the club were holding talks in Edinburgh on Tuesday afternoon, with insolvency practitioner Blair Nimmo brought in to liaise with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

"We can only hope we get our half wages tomorrow and the rest of the balance before the end of the week," said the manager.

"Reasons were given for it only being half wages, but I'm not going to go into that.

"I don't think it's fair that it is dragging on. There are a lot of people in the dark here.

"Hopefully, there will be some sort of conclusion today and, hopefully, it's positive."

Asked whether administration was a real threat for the Dens Park club, Chisholm replied: "Without doubt." He also said that the players were in low spirits.

"Fortunately, we don't have a game this Saturday," he said. "But it's like anybody who hasn't received their wages, they are obviously down and they're concerned."

Speaking last week, chief executive Harry MacLean was adamant that the club will not go out of business.

"Absolutely. I hope that Dundee FC is still here in another 100 years' time," MacLean said.