In the letter of 6th March, we submitted 22 questions, which can be grouped into the following topics: Thompson family shareholding / investment in the club, debt management, cost control, football strategy and remuneration. Despite a written response and a meeting with Stephen Thompson, Derek Robertson and David Southern on 26th March, a number of our questions remain unanswered. We are puzzled as to why this is the case, as we were clear we required a response to each question.

At the meeting on 26th March, we were told yet again that costs would be managed downwards. This is despite having been told the same story for a number of years and seeing no progress. In fact, the operating costs of DUFC have remained relatively consistent for the last 7 years. As such, we remain sceptical as to whether any progress will be made in the current and future financial years without detriment to the playing side of the club. Positively, and contrary to the statement made at the AGM on 29th January, Stephen Thompson announced that he would now welcome investment in the club through wider share ownership. However, he was wary of a level of investment that would take the Thompson family shareholding below 75%.

There are three key points that we feel all Dundee United fans should be aware of:
- Firstly, we were shocked to find out that a huge amount of ‘commission’ has been paid to unnamed parties from the sale of 4 players – Gauld, Robertson, Armstrong and Mackay-Steven. We believe this figure to be in excess of £500k. This does not include payments to players, agents or other clubs. When all of these various payments are totalled, over 25% of the £6.3m in fees received has not been kept in the club.
- Secondly, despite the sales of the four players noted above, the Board of DUFC does not believe that this is yet sufficient to pay all current remaining debt.
- Thirdly, the amount of investment in the club by the Thompson family is not £5m as has been widely reported. This includes payments of over £1m made to buy out previous shareholders and soft loans to the club, the latter of which have been steadily repaid in the last few years. The actual investment, as confirmed by Stephen Thompson, is nearer £3.5m. Of this, the Thompson family hold nearly 85,000 shares in the club, which are valued (as agreed by the Club's auditors) at £33 a share. We believe that if the Thompson family were to sell their shares, they could recoup a significant proportion of the money they have invested.

At the meeting on 26th March, it was agreed that we would reconvene with the Board of DUFC in June to reflect on any progress made in improving the management of the Club. At this future meeting it should become clear the scale of the operating loss which will be incurred in the current financial year.

Given the points above, we believe that changes are required as to how Dundee United is managed. We want our Club to be successful and stable, both on and off the park. Both ArabTRUST and the Federation wish only the best for Dundee United; the Club is deep within our hearts and we hope that by the time we formally meet again with the Board of DUFC that the necessary changes have been made to improve the management of the club and allow us in the future to prosper on the field.

I'll just chuck on the end of this (because it isn't enough to read) that there have been loads of rumours kicking about lately, particularly on United Mad, which involve the coaching staff being regularly out on the lash in St Andrews, firing in about the students. And apparently Jackson is particularly bad for it, continually showing up to training half cut.

A rumour is that Jackie is on his way in the summer after falling out with Thompson about Jackson's drinking.

The training is also meant to be minimal, with the players having to top up their fitness on their own in the afternoons.

All rumours of course so take with a pinch of salt.

Pay your debts! Think of the facepainters!

Only kidding. Unlucky.

No sympathy from tic types. Roon yeez, enjoy yer Armageddon.

The training is also meant to be minimal, with the players having to top up their fitness on their own in the afternoons.

.................

Sounds like what our training was like if some reports were true, Ivan.

"Given the points above, we believe that changes are required as to how Dundee United is managed."

Has anybody at Arab Trust a clue what these "changes" would be? It read like a fairly decent statement until that part. It's fine to criticise, but if you don't have a better solution don't expect anything to be done.

Another Scottish Premier League team "in crisis"!

And one of the few in recent times coming anywhere near challenging Celtic.

Oh aye, Scottish football's on the rise all right.

DUFC in Crisis

Are you feeling it, kuuntface thompson

Rumour is jackie is off in the summer, who the most overrated manager in the history of scottish football ?

Geez.. For a city with an indecipherable accent, you guys sure can ramble on eh

I'll be disappointed if this thread isn't mobbed by Gers fans with their "You're all doomed I tell ya!" patter. They'll be all over this.

Did uz no just recently wipe out all your debt too? How can uz be in such a poor state then?

"who the most overrated manager in the history of scottish football ?"

Walter Smith

"And apparently Jackson is particularly bad for it, continually showing up to training half cut."

At least he has no trophies to lose

comment by JukeboxJunkie - A wrong decision is better tha... (U10162)
posted 16 minutes ago
"who the most overrated manager in the history of scottish football ?"

Walter Smith
----------------------------------------------------------------------
walters record speaks for itself, jackie could only dream of Winn just one of those trophies

I'll be disappointed if this thread isn't mobbed by Gers fans with their "You're all doomed I tell ya!" patter. They'll be all over this.

And this years "ironic " award goes to

"And apparently Jackson is particularly bad for it, continually showing up to training half cut."

Hey that's oor job

Dazza Jackson the wife stealer

Ivan

this is very pleasing for me to read considering my hatred of Stephen Thompson

however I can sympathise with you on a fitba fan level

im pretty sure lick spittle Jim Spence had a raging hard on about how utd are now debt free so this is a bit of a surprise, it also explains why Celtic got Armstrong for the amount they did

Dundee United fans groups hit out at chairman Stephen Thompson


By Jim Spence
BBC Sport
Dundee United fans' groups say they are "shocked" that over 25% of £6.3 million in transfer fees have been paid out in commission to unnamed parties.
Arabtrust and the Federation of Dundee United Supporters Clubs expressed concern at the payments
"We were shocked to find out that a huge amount of 'commission' has been paid to unnamed parties," a joint statement said.
"We believe this figure to be in excess of £500,000."
The two groups say the payments relate to the sale of four players - Ryan Gauld, Andrew Robertson, Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven.
In the statement they also took issue with Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson's quoted level of investment in the club.
"This [the alleged £500,000] does not include payments to players, agents or other clubs," the statement continued. "When all of these various payments are totalled, over 25% of the £6.3m in fees received has not been kept in the club."
The statement also expressed worries over club debts, noting that: "Despite the sales of the four players noted above, the board of DUFC does not believe that this is yet sufficient to pay all current remaining debt.
"The amount of investment in the club by the Thompson family is not £5m as has been widely reported. This includes payments of over £1m made to buy out previous shareholders and soft loans to the club, the latter of which have been steadily repaid in the last few years.
"The actual investment, as confirmed by Stephen Thompson, is nearer £3.5m. Of this, the Thompson family hold nearly 85,000 shares in the club, which are valued (as agreed by the clubs auditors) at £33 a share.
"We believe that if the Thompson family were to sell their shares, they could recoup a significant proportion of the money they have invested."
Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson said he had no comment to make on the matter.

spence has been dangling on the root of Thompson for years

this is most pleasing

Wee spency was telling all and sundry on Twitter that his club were debt free

Is he a glib liar or a complete t!!t

ooooft

That 25% story regarding the players absolutely reeks. Thompson will need to clarify this pronto.

It seems Sir Peter of Lawell is the only trustworthy and outstanding individual in his role these days

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by NNH - SCENES (U10730)
posted 53 seconds ago
ooooft

That 25% story regarding the players absolutely reeks. Thompson will need to clarify this pronto.

It seems Sir Peter of Lawell is the only trustworthy and outstanding individual in his role these days
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Careful

Wee bit of smoke and mirrors from thommo

its times like this im glad we have lawwell.

i'm harsh on him sometimes, but nobody can deny the fantastic job he has done for us.

a visionary is our pete

25% was paid out to his bastirt offspring*


*maybe