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EXCLUSIVE: Dundee owners close in on deal to buy Dens Park in major step towards new stadium plan

The home of the Dark Blues has been owned by local businessman John Bennett for the last 14 years.

Dens Park, the home of Dundee FC.
Dens Park, the home of Dundee FC.

Dundee owners Tim Keyes and John Nelms are close to finalising the deal to bring Dens Park back into club ownership.

The stadium has been owned by local businessman John Bennett since 2009.

However, it’s understood that situation is on the verge of coming to an end, with talks between Dark Blues chiefs and Bennett at an advanced stage.

Courier Sport reported in 2021 that Keyes and Nelms planned on purchasing Dens as a key part of their new stadium project at Camperdown Park.

Dundee owners Tim Keyes and John Nelms.
Dundee owners Tim Keyes and John Nelms. Image: SNS

The price had been set between the parties for a number of years, quoted by the BBC in 2013 as £750,000.

Bennett, a former director at Dundee United, has been clear since taking ownership of the ground – to help the club through financial difficulty – that he would only ever sell Dens if it was going back to the club.

During a 2015 attempt to buy the stadium back under then-chairman Bill Colvin, Bennett said: “I told Dundee at the time I bought the ground that I would sell it back if it was going into the hands of Dundee fans and I’ll stand by that.”

Dens Park owner John Bennett
John Bennett. Image: DCT

Talks in 2015, however, fell through.

In 2021 Keyes and Nelms’ purchase plan was delayed, then came close to fruition once more in November 2022, before again being delayed.

Now it appears the long-running saga is finally set come to an end.

In securing a deal for Dens Park, Dundee’s owners will take a major step towards their goal of building a new stadium at Camperdown Park.

The planning permission process for the Dark Blues’ new home is expected to formally begin in the coming months.

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