Friday 26 November 2010
RAITH V DUNDEE POSTPONED DUE TO REF STRIKE
Dundee's game at Starks Park this Saturday has been postponed due to the impending referee strike this coming weekend which will see all SFL matches postponed as there will be no match officials available to officiate. SPL games will go ahead due to the SFA recruiting foreign referees for the top division and it would seem that lower league clubs will be angered as they feel they have lost out. In terms of revenue and costs, the SFL clubs will stand to lose money this weekend. The match will now be played on Tuesday 30th November.
DUNDEE V MOTHERWELL, SCOTTISH CUP 4TH ROUND
Dundee have been drawn against Motherwell in the 4th round of the Scottish Cup at Dens and will be played on the weekend of 8/9th January 2011.
Thursday 18 November 2010
CRAIG ROBERTSON TESTIMONIAL
Dundee FC will take part in Lochee United's Craig Robertson testimonal this coming Saturday at Thomson Park, Dundee with a 2pm kick off. Due to line up for Dundee that day are former players Javier Artero, Bobby Glennie, Tosh McKinlay, Bobby Geddes, Barry Smith and others to be announced. Tickets cost £8 for adults and £2 for OAP's and under 16's. Tickets can be purchased at Dundee Direct or at the turnstiles on the day. All proceeds from Craig's testamonial will be going towards his beloved Dundee FC through the Dundee Football Club Supporters Society.
It is truly a fantastic gesture from Craig and we all would like to wish him an enjoyable day.
It is truly a fantastic gesture from Craig and we all would like to wish him an enjoyable day.
Wednesday 17 November 2010
DARK BLUE FOREVER WELCOMES NEW BLOG TO LINKS.
Dark Blue Forever would like to welcome to its useful links a new Dundee FC blog and that's Dark Blues O'Dundee
Saturday 13 November 2010
DUNDEE SECURE FIRST AWAY WIN OF SEASON
Two goals from Leigh Griffiths and one from Nicky Riley made sure that Dundee left Victoria Park with their first away win under their belt. Ross County went into this game on the back of Derek Adams their manager leaving to take up the Assistant Manager's role at Hibernian. Craig Brewster took charge for this game as caretaker manager. More to follow...................
Tuesday 9 November 2010
DUNDEE WIN AGAINST THISTLE
Please see official Dundee FC website for match report.......
Monday 8 November 2010
DUNDEE'S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL.
Dundee FC has faced many a long battle for survival in their 117 year history but none as perilious than the battle we face to stay in buisness today. After a severe case of gross mismanagement by certaun individuals that have since left the Dens Park board, we are quite literally staring oblivion in the face. It is totally unacceptable that our club should find ourselves in the position we do today.
It can be argued for and against that Dundee FC are a "sleeping giant" of Scottish Football. In the 1960's we were one of the biggest clubs in the country and we were taking on the likes of Italian giants AC Milan in the European Cup. These were the glory years of the Dark Blues and a whole host of fantastic footballing names wore the Dark Blue jersey including Bobby Cox, Ian Ure, Billy Steel and Doug Cowie. In 1962 we won the Championship in what would be the equivalent of the SPL trophy today. Thousands crammed into Dens to watch their heroes play and usually win. Fast forward 48 years and Dundee FC find themselves at the bottom of the First Division, the second tier of Scottish Football. We have been knocked out of the Alba Challenge Cup by Stenhousmuir and knocked out of the CIS League Cup by Brechin City. The board also failed to pay a staggering tax bill and certain directors had troubles outwith their commitment to DFC. This has all led to Mr Calum Melville, the club's benefactor, resigning, preceded by Bob Brannan and Ian Bodie in the Summer and the club plunging into administration for the second time in seven years. Dundee spent the second highest transfer fees in the summer of 2009 in Scotland with the purchase of Leigh Griffiths and Gary Harkins for around £250,000. Mr Melville had answered the club's call for investment and he became not only a director but also the club's benefactor. We had previously had worked to a strict buisness plan that was thought up by former chief executive Dave McKinnon, Ian Bodie and Bob Brannan. However, the club decided to veer away from this buisness model and were tempted by the cash that Melville had to offer. Dundee FC brought in a strong squad of players and the fans were hoping that it was going to be our year for promotion. Mr Melville stated that "second was nowhere" and we really needed to get back to the SPL. He also aimed for top six SPL football at Dens and also looked to aquire Dens Park from Dundee United chairman, John Bennett, who himself aquired the ground as exchange for monies loaned to DFC to buy back debt from bank. However, Dens was not sold and Melville didn't fulfil his promise on that front. Dundee started shaky but gradually began to produce a good string of results. In November 2009, Dundee won the Alba Challenge Cup beating Inverness CT in a thrilling 3-2 result. Dundee FC then extended that good run of results until Christmas and at one point were 15 points ahead at the top of the First Division. From January to March 2010 however results dipped and Jocky Scott was relieved of his managerial duties in March. Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds were appointed as the new management team but couldn't get Dundee FC the promotion they so desperately needed. It was disappointing but Melville had stated that there was no pressure on Chisholm getting Dundee promoted in his first couple of months as manager, it would be a two year plan. However, as Chis and Dodds was preparing to get a new look squad developed with possible names such as Bob Harris and Michael Gardyne being touted with real possible moves to Dens, trouble was brewing up behind the scenes at Dens Park. The tax bill hadn't been paid and bills were mounting. It would appear that the board had chucked all their eggs into one basket to get back to the SPL in season 2009/10 and with that they had severely overspent. Chisholm was then informed that the playing budget would be cut by 40% which then scuppered his plans to buy certain players. Bob Brannan issued an open letter in the Evening Telegraph advising fans to back the club or the club will die. Now, he knew the state of play then surely? He clearly saw the books at Dens and it now transpires that there was a huge tax bill building up. Instead of him crying out to the fans to dig deep and further support the club, beyond the call of duty in my opinion, Brannan and Melville should have agreed a plan to pay the tax bill and then set up some sort of repayment scheme to Melville at a later date. Instead, they let it get to where it has got the club and now we are really facing the oblivion because of gross incompetence by the former board of directors. October 14th will long live in the memories of Dundee supporters and players and staff for a long time. Nine players were given the sack as were Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds along with Neil Cosgrove, the kit man of 13 years and lifelong Dundee supporter who also worked in the ticket office within the club shop. It was a dark day indeed, while it seemed Brannan and Melville both slipped into obscurity leaving behind a huge mess for others to sort out. Whilst that all happened, we have been hammered by the SFL with a 25 points deduction and player embargo. The Dundee fans came out in force on Saturday at the Partick match at Dens and showed their grievances at the decision. Political figures have also backed our fight against the SFL and it is a fight that us Dundee fans will continue to wage. Now. we have to find £500,000 before Christmas for us to survive. The Dundee fans so far have been superb and have raised over £100,000 towards that already. It is still going to be a mammoth task for us to raise that kind of money and we really hope that an investor can step in aswell. I am 100% convinced that our terrific fans will fight right to the bitter end in order to help this great club survive and it is one campaign I will give my all.
It can be argued for and against that Dundee FC are a "sleeping giant" of Scottish Football. In the 1960's we were one of the biggest clubs in the country and we were taking on the likes of Italian giants AC Milan in the European Cup. These were the glory years of the Dark Blues and a whole host of fantastic footballing names wore the Dark Blue jersey including Bobby Cox, Ian Ure, Billy Steel and Doug Cowie. In 1962 we won the Championship in what would be the equivalent of the SPL trophy today. Thousands crammed into Dens to watch their heroes play and usually win. Fast forward 48 years and Dundee FC find themselves at the bottom of the First Division, the second tier of Scottish Football. We have been knocked out of the Alba Challenge Cup by Stenhousmuir and knocked out of the CIS League Cup by Brechin City. The board also failed to pay a staggering tax bill and certain directors had troubles outwith their commitment to DFC. This has all led to Mr Calum Melville, the club's benefactor, resigning, preceded by Bob Brannan and Ian Bodie in the Summer and the club plunging into administration for the second time in seven years. Dundee spent the second highest transfer fees in the summer of 2009 in Scotland with the purchase of Leigh Griffiths and Gary Harkins for around £250,000. Mr Melville had answered the club's call for investment and he became not only a director but also the club's benefactor. We had previously had worked to a strict buisness plan that was thought up by former chief executive Dave McKinnon, Ian Bodie and Bob Brannan. However, the club decided to veer away from this buisness model and were tempted by the cash that Melville had to offer. Dundee FC brought in a strong squad of players and the fans were hoping that it was going to be our year for promotion. Mr Melville stated that "second was nowhere" and we really needed to get back to the SPL. He also aimed for top six SPL football at Dens and also looked to aquire Dens Park from Dundee United chairman, John Bennett, who himself aquired the ground as exchange for monies loaned to DFC to buy back debt from bank. However, Dens was not sold and Melville didn't fulfil his promise on that front. Dundee started shaky but gradually began to produce a good string of results. In November 2009, Dundee won the Alba Challenge Cup beating Inverness CT in a thrilling 3-2 result. Dundee FC then extended that good run of results until Christmas and at one point were 15 points ahead at the top of the First Division. From January to March 2010 however results dipped and Jocky Scott was relieved of his managerial duties in March. Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds were appointed as the new management team but couldn't get Dundee FC the promotion they so desperately needed. It was disappointing but Melville had stated that there was no pressure on Chisholm getting Dundee promoted in his first couple of months as manager, it would be a two year plan. However, as Chis and Dodds was preparing to get a new look squad developed with possible names such as Bob Harris and Michael Gardyne being touted with real possible moves to Dens, trouble was brewing up behind the scenes at Dens Park. The tax bill hadn't been paid and bills were mounting. It would appear that the board had chucked all their eggs into one basket to get back to the SPL in season 2009/10 and with that they had severely overspent. Chisholm was then informed that the playing budget would be cut by 40% which then scuppered his plans to buy certain players. Bob Brannan issued an open letter in the Evening Telegraph advising fans to back the club or the club will die. Now, he knew the state of play then surely? He clearly saw the books at Dens and it now transpires that there was a huge tax bill building up. Instead of him crying out to the fans to dig deep and further support the club, beyond the call of duty in my opinion, Brannan and Melville should have agreed a plan to pay the tax bill and then set up some sort of repayment scheme to Melville at a later date. Instead, they let it get to where it has got the club and now we are really facing the oblivion because of gross incompetence by the former board of directors. October 14th will long live in the memories of Dundee supporters and players and staff for a long time. Nine players were given the sack as were Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds along with Neil Cosgrove, the kit man of 13 years and lifelong Dundee supporter who also worked in the ticket office within the club shop. It was a dark day indeed, while it seemed Brannan and Melville both slipped into obscurity leaving behind a huge mess for others to sort out. Whilst that all happened, we have been hammered by the SFL with a 25 points deduction and player embargo. The Dundee fans came out in force on Saturday at the Partick match at Dens and showed their grievances at the decision. Political figures have also backed our fight against the SFL and it is a fight that us Dundee fans will continue to wage. Now. we have to find £500,000 before Christmas for us to survive. The Dundee fans so far have been superb and have raised over £100,000 towards that already. It is still going to be a mammoth task for us to raise that kind of money and we really hope that an investor can step in aswell. I am 100% convinced that our terrific fans will fight right to the bitter end in order to help this great club survive and it is one campaign I will give my all.
Thursday 4 November 2010
25 POINTS DEDUCTION AND TRANSFER EMBARGO.
Dundee FC have been hit by the SFL with a 25 points deduction and a transfer embargo due to Dundee entering administration for the second time in 7 years. Bryan Jackson, administrator has expressed his outrage at the decision:
"I shall be appealing this decision by the SFL as I think that this is an outrageous punishment for the club. With almost guaranteed demotion from the first division it will be much more difficult to attract investment or retain players. This could also ultimately affect the income of other first division teams as we will be unable to attract a good away support if there is nothing to play for.”
“Given that the club is fulfilling its fixtures with a credible team this seems a punitive and punishing blow which threatens the future existence of the club. Everyone involved at DFC is working hard to ensure that the club survives this administration but this penalty makes that situation much more difficult. “
“Whilst I appreciate that the SFL had to be seen to act when the club fell into administration for the second time it is questionable whether this punishment is not ultimately self defeating by threatening the continued existence of the club.”
“Given the support which the club has had from the team, from the supporters, and from the city of Dundee, the response of the SFL has effectively been dismissive of this support. We can go on in the short term but this action has made the future much less certain than it has been at any time since the administration began"
Dundee fans have expressed their anger and displeasure at the decision and various facebook pages have been set up to show their feelings as regards to the decision.
Dundee FC have the right to appeal and will. We are Dundee FC and we will fight this all the way.
Quotes: http://www.dundeefc.co.uk/news_detail.asp?newsid=1285
"I shall be appealing this decision by the SFL as I think that this is an outrageous punishment for the club. With almost guaranteed demotion from the first division it will be much more difficult to attract investment or retain players. This could also ultimately affect the income of other first division teams as we will be unable to attract a good away support if there is nothing to play for.”
“Given that the club is fulfilling its fixtures with a credible team this seems a punitive and punishing blow which threatens the future existence of the club. Everyone involved at DFC is working hard to ensure that the club survives this administration but this penalty makes that situation much more difficult. “
“Whilst I appreciate that the SFL had to be seen to act when the club fell into administration for the second time it is questionable whether this punishment is not ultimately self defeating by threatening the continued existence of the club.”
“Given the support which the club has had from the team, from the supporters, and from the city of Dundee, the response of the SFL has effectively been dismissive of this support. We can go on in the short term but this action has made the future much less certain than it has been at any time since the administration began"
Dundee fans have expressed their anger and displeasure at the decision and various facebook pages have been set up to show their feelings as regards to the decision.
Dundee FC have the right to appeal and will. We are Dundee FC and we will fight this all the way.
Quotes: http://www.dundeefc.co.uk/news_detail.asp?newsid=1285
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