Well, this time last year, Dundee fans were dreaming. We had just installed a new member of the board, Mr Calum Melville, who promised investment and a buisness plan initiated into the club. He duly kept his side of the bargain by sanctioning the transfers of Leigh Griffiths and Gary Harkins for a combined transfer total of £265,000 or there abouts. The club also went on a signing spree, with Jocky Scott the then manager almost given carte blanche as to who he wanted to sign. Dundee found themselves in a position that they hadn't found themselves in since the days of the Bonetti brothers, actually spending a six figure sum on individual players. For a First Division club, it was unheard of. Clubs in this competitive league have a very tight budget to work from and up until last season, Dundee were following the same pattern. But, now Dundee were splashing the cash and were also causing a stir in Scottish football. Almost so as they were nicknamed "the Manchester City of the North" for the frenzy money spending. As the season tickets number rose, the squad numbers swelled and hopes were raised for a real genuine push for promotion. So did the story end happily?
No, the answer is no. Having won the Alba Challenge Cup in November, Dundee went on an impressive 14 game unbeaten run and found themselves a good distance at the top of the league, albeit with other clubs having games in hand. The January transfer window came and went with Dundee signing two loanees, Andrew Shinnie and Ben Hutchinson. A defeat at home to Airdrie United in early January saw the start of a terrible run of results in which Dundee picked up only 21 points out of a possible 50 on offer. Results fluctuated and it was a 3-0 away defeat, ironically against Airdrie United on the 20th March which saw the removal of Jocky Scott as Dundee boss. In came Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds. Their task was to get Dundee over the finishing line and yes, Dundee were in a great position, 4 points clear at the top. However the new manager effect didn't come into play and Dundee dropped 4 points in Chisholm's first two games in charge, which allowed second place Inverness CT leapfrog Dundee by a single point. A defeat at Dunfermline saw Inverness extend their lead to 4 points and from that point on, there wasn't going to be a recovery from Dundee. Inverness were on an incredible unbeaten run since November and they were forging away at the top of the table. Dundee could only look on and wonder what if? Inverness CT clinched the title without having to kick a ball. Dundee had to win at Starks Park on April 21st to keep any faint title hopes alive. Alas, they fell to a solitary goal from Raith Rovers. Cue celebrations in the Highland Capital that evening. Inverness were returning to the SPL after one season in the First Division and Dundee had handed them the title giftwrapped.
Now as we comprehend the failure of last seasons efforts, attention has been drawn to the ultimate success of which the Tangerine side of the city has enjoyed. Finishing third in the SPL and winning the Scottish Cup for only their second time, the Dundee United fans were having a real laugh, they were laughing at their old rivals, Dundee FC. And who could blame them? No-one.
Who is at fault for the collapse of our title hopes? Was Melville right to invest in a club like Dundee? What does the future hold for Dundee FC? These are three key questions that shouldn't be ignored.
The out-going Chairman, Bob Brannan, has issued a rallying call for all Dark Blue fans to unite and get behind the team, support them both financially and emotionally otherwise the alternative would be grave for Dundee, almost terminal for the city's oldest professional football club. The budget is reduced this window and the squad has been trimmed. Mr Melville has pledged to help our cause for at least another year and we can only thank him for his marvellous contribution to this great club.
Promotion is a must this season and if we don't win promotion, then Dundee fans will have the right to ask: "When are we ever going to get out of this league?"
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