Dundee FC legend in plea for club to stay at Dens Park

[News Bot]

Dundee FC legend Ian Ure has made a plea for the club to stay at its Dens Park home.

Ure — who played for the side which won the league in 1962 — branded any possible move as “strange”.

And, controversially, Ian also believes the club should consider amalgamating with their city rivals, United.

The Tele revealed the news that Dundee FC could move to a new home — and the news has divided local opinion.

Some have backed the idea of Dundee FC moving away from Dens Park, potentially to land near Dundee Ice Arena — which has been snapped up by two of the club’s directors — John Nelms and Tim Keyes — in a private deal.

The Dundee FC squad of 1962 with the league trophy

But others say it would be a shame to break with tradition — particularly one which has seen Dundee and Dundee United’s grounds sharing a street for most of their history.

Ian, 76, who played for Dundee for five years from 1958 to 1963 said: “It seems a strange move to me given the crowds they have been getting in recent years.

“They have two good stands and they should look at doing some restoration work on the older sections — invest in what is already there.

“Both clubs in Dundee are struggling financially, along with the rest of Scottish football — it says a lot when clubs in the fourth tier of English football can offer bigger wages to players than the top league in Scotland.

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“I am still of the opinion that the clubs in Dundee should amalgamate and I have always said it. I know there are some tribal loyalties there but they would ease off after a few decades.”

Former Dundee player and manager Gordon Wallace said: “I think it’s a strange move now considering that particular area of ground has been available for years.

“Both Dundee and United trained on the flat ground there at one point and neither took the option of buying it.

“I think parking could also pose a problem, given the other facilities up there.

“I am still of the opinion that it would be a viable option for the clubs to share a stadium like the Milan clubs do.”

Former Dundee manager Gordon Wallace pictured in 1989.

Former Dee director and current fans’ representative Dave Forbes said: “I have to say I admire their optimism in Scottish football if they are going to go ahead and do this.

“If they spend the money it would show they are serious about their plans for Dundee.”

Locals have had their say on social media.

John Young said: “Our city has been screaming out for a new stadium for *** knows how long now.

“A new stadium would not just benefit DFC, the whole city would benefit from it.

“It could host Scotland friendly games, pop concerts, you name it. I also wouldn’t be opposed to a groundshare with United if it generated income for my club.”

Karen Young Kerr wrote: “I’m not a Dundee fan but it would be a shame to get rid of Dens. We are the only city in the UK to have opposing football teams’ stadiums in the same street.”

Andy Hayburn said: “It would probably be more expensive to renovate Dens as it is, it’s that bad.”

Peter Hamilton wrote: “It’s progress I suppose.”

Garry Bradley said: “It would make more sense to sell both stadiums and share one new one.”

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[Boba Fett]

Wow! Sorry Ian... Couldn't disagree more.

[Attilio]

19 minutes ago, Boba Fett said:

Wow! Sorry Ian... Couldn't disagree more.

It's his view I suppose but I agree with you Boba.  He is wrong on every level imo.  I'm getting the idea from these stories that most of these people still believe we own our own ground.

[Boba Fett]

3 minutes ago, Attilio said:

It's his view I suppose but I agree with you Boba.  He is wrong on every level imo.  I'm getting the idea from these stories that most of these people still believe we own our own ground.

Yup.. You're always going to get differing views but this could be the biggest opportunity to cement positive change at our club in my lifetime.

I don't think the level of ambition and investment (twice the finincial outlay to gain a controlling interest in the club) being shown here is being appreciated by those who are not close to the club nowadays. 

Imagine us getting to a place where we were not solely reliant on season ticket sales and bums on seats to balance the books.

Exciting times and a massive opportunity to take our club to a level well beyond most of the clubs we are competing against at present.

Really hoping it all comes to fruition and looking forward to finding out a lot more detail in time.

C'mon the Dee

[Attilio]

6 minutes ago, Boba Fett said:

Yup.. You're always going to get differing views but this could be the biggest opportunity to cement positive change at our club in my lifetime.

I don't think the level of ambition and investment (twice the finincial outlay to gain a controlling interest in the club) being shown here is being appreciated by those who are not close to the club nowadays.

Imagine us getting to a place where we were not solely reliant on season ticket sales and bums on seats to balance the books.

Exciting times and a massive opportunity to take our club to a level well beyond most of the clubs we are competing against at present.

Really hoping it all comes to fruition and looking forward to finding out a lot more detail in time.

C'mon the Dee

My gut feeling is that Nelms and Keyes don't leave anything to chance and risks would have been ironed out. Cute businessmen certainly. My thinking is that if you've splashed £1.2m on land for a building project you already have plans and details in place (preliminary or concept maybe) and you have already sounded out the council regarding planning.

The funding for this is going to be interesting though.  I remember reading a few months back that Scunthorpe were planning a new 12,000 stadium and the cost was quoted as being around £18m.

[Billy Campbell's Ghost]

Nothing strange about it - we have owners with vision now (maybe?) unlike the jerks we had before (since Gellatly went) - I like Ian Ure and Wallace but they are way out of touch with modern thinking and business.

[Boba Fett]

11 minutes ago, Attilio said:

My gut feeling is that Nelms and Keyes don't leave anything to chance and risks would have been ironed out. Cute businessmen certainly. My thinking is that if you've splashed £1.2m on land for a building project you already have plans and details in place (preliminary or concept maybe) and you have already sounded out the council regarding planning.

The funding for this is going to be interesting though.  I remember reading a few months back that Scunthorpe were planning a new 12,000 stadium and the cost was quoted as being around £18m.

Rotherhams new 12000 capacity stadium is quoted as having a £20m construction cost.

Not sure if that included the purchase of the land or not though. 

[Gnasher]

Dear Ian Ure,

You're totally out of touch with Dundee FC and all that's happening at Dens.

Cheers ! 

[Gedee]

Firstly Great Picture ....HEROES ONE AND ALL

Every one a Hero & Super Star in my eyes. And no least Big Ian Ure.

But when eh read your suggestion, we should amalgamate wi' THEM.

Deary me man, You starting tae miss/forget, yir medical check-ups?

Eh ken ye're noo 76 years, but tak it fae a young loon (me) eh'm twa

years younger, it is important tae tak yir medication. Look after yirsel

[Sebastiano Nela]

Wisen up Ian.

[petercaproni]

Big Ian is a club legend and is like everyone else entitled to his opinion-personally although I would love to see Dens with a new South Stand and new Main Stand I reckon the Americans will have looked at that and probably deemed it as unrealistic in terms of expense and that the commercial opportunities that are potentially available with a new stadium outweigh the emotional attachment to Dens. Personally although leaving Dens would be a wee bit of a tear jerker I think a new stadium is the way forward both in terms of commercial opportunities, but first and foremost a new stadium would be a catalyst for attracting new players and younger supporters I think would buy into it and help create a larger fan base moving forward. As for sharing it with United, again personally I wouldn't be for sharing anything with those people. We want to continue to be the big club in Dundee for generations and I wouldn't want to share our forward thinking vision with a  club whose supporters have ridiculed and laughed at us for years. They can do one as far I'm concerned!

 

[JoeCovenant]

I was willing to listen to the opinion...

Then read he thinks we should amalgamate with *them*...

Sorry. No.
His views would make a bit more sense if we owned the ground. But we don't.
And his comments about crowd sizes also seem out of touch.

(This raises other questions which I have been thinking about a *lot* recently* re WHY we haven;t bought it back... may put another post up later... maybe...