Scotland’s bid for the European Championships in 2008 and the need for at least two new 30,000-seater stadia has seen Dundee and Dundee United become jointly involved in an ambitious attempt to bag a new stadium for Tayside, and last week the bid dominated conversation in Dundonian boardrooms and bars alike, where a recurring fear was expressed that sharing a stadium might lead to the amalgamation of two proud clubs.
However, Scotland on Sunday can reveal that such an outcome has not even been discussed, never mind seriously considered, by the people behind the Dundee bid, namely the two clubs, the city council and the local enterprise company. Nick Day, the grandly titled director of competitive locations at Scottish Enterprise Tayside, is the man charged with pulling together the outline bid for submission to the SFA by Tuesday, July 31. Such a tight deadline means that the four partners can only put together "options" for the development of the new stadium, but Day is adamant that combining the two clubs was not an option. Day said: "I can assure the fans of both clubs that such an idea has never even been discussed at our meetings. All that we have ever looked at is the possibility of both clubs sharing a stadium."
Day claimed that the bid was meeting with "mostly positive reaction" in Dundee, and he also firmly excluded the possibility of either Dens Park or Tannadice being redeveloped as the new stadium for both clubs. "We did look at both Dens and Tannadice, but the prospect of developing either was ruled out at an early stage," he added. "We have been looking at options for a number of sites for the new stadium, and at ways of financing it. "We are aware that people are concerned that 30,000 seats might be too many, so we have also looked at whether it is possible to have a reduced capacity after the championships, and that does not seem to be an issue for either the SFA or UEFA.
Dundee is a compact city, so we need a site with good public access where we can develop a stadium with good community facilities." That would appear to indicate a waterfront site - several parcels of land beside the Tay have already been earmarked for leisure development - or building on the green belt to the west or north of the city, and Day also confirmed that public ownership of the new stadium was being considered, perhaps by the city council, with both clubs then able to concentrate on football issues. "It works in Italy, so why not here?
It would be good for Dundee, good for the clubs and good for the fans." But what do those fans really think? In the relatively neutral territory of Sinatra’s Lounge last week, Dundee and Dundee United fans sat apart but gave considered views on the issue, the Dens denizens going first.
Bob Laird, 37, guru behind Boab’s Little Piece of Scotland internet website, said: "The Scottish Premier League would have to make a serious change to their constitution to guarantee that both clubs could continue. Roger Mitchell of the SPL is hardly the Dundee fans’ darling after all the negative comments he kept making while we were redeveloping Dens, and maybe I’m cynical but the spectre of amalgamation still won’t go away.
"And would the SFA make a leap of faith and allow internationals against smaller teams at the new stadium? I have my doubts. Having said that, I’m not against the idea, and it’s a brave and forward-thinking step for both teams, and the authorities, to make."
Rod Miller-Kelly, 34, webmaster of the Dee-licious internet fan pages, said: "I think it should have been done before now, before the new ice rink was built, when we could have had a stadium with lots of facilities around about. They will also need to make sure the community gets access."
Lindsay Laird, 46, added: "I’m in favour, but I think there will be resentment among fans. About 20 or 25 years ago this would not even have been thought possible, but times change and a new stadium could work - it might take a generation for the fans to get used to it, though."
John Price, 48, an Irish-born Dundee fan, said the city council should operate the new stadium. "Irish cities see their clubs as assets. They own the grounds and let the clubs concentrate on the football."
There was perhaps a more mixed reaction among Dundee United fans. Grant Mathieson, 38, said: "I think it’s a definite non-starter. I’m not against it in principle, but who would spend the money and, in any case, will Scotland get Euro 2008?"
But Victoria MacKay, 24, insisted: "I’m for it, because I think it would be good for Dundee in general, and not just for football fans. Scotland could handle the European Championships, but I’m doubtful whether it will happen."
Andrew Dainty, 30, was the only neutral in the pub. He said: "I’m for it, but they are going to have to sort out the transport network because the infrastructure isn’t there. I am also sure both sets of fans could co-exist peacefully."
Away from Sinatra’s, fans of both clubs let SoS know their feelings. Dave Webster, one of Dundee’s best known fans - he is renowned for once accidentally running down Celtic’s Jimmy Johnstone in his invalid car - said: "As a fan of 40 years, it would be a tearful day if Dens was razed to the ground, but that’s the price of progress."
United fan Niall Nicolson took an entirely opposite view: "I don’t think that either set of fans would let it happen. Why knock down a stadium with so much history, like UEFA Cup finals? We United fans could hardly stand there and allow it to be bulldozed down in front of our eyes. And why knock down two stadiums to make one for only one international tournament? Absolute rubbish and it won’t be allowed."
On Saturday, the plan for a new stadium will cease to be the topic of conversation in Dundee for all of 90 minutes. For the rest of the season, however, it looks set to be Tayside’s main talking point.
Martin Hannan,
UK Sports Writer of the Year
Sunday, 22nd July 2001 Scotland on Sunday