The proposed Texan-backed investment in Dundee moved a step closer when the Dark Blue Business Trust took their counter offer off the table.
Now, it is up to the club’s majority shareholders in the shape of the Dundee FC Supporters’ Society to decide whether to give the go ahead to the proposed initial £650,000 cash injection from the consortium operating under the title of Football Partners Scotland.
John Nelms from the group was due to address supporters at a Q&A session at the Dundee Social Club and he will give another at the Dee Club in Lochee in a bid to allay any fears fans may have about the proposal.
DFCSS members are set to vote at a Special General Meeting in the Gardyne Theatre next Monday on whether to agree to authorise the Society board to allow the club to issue sufficient new shares to give a controlling interest in Dundee to FPS.
If the vote is passed, then the investment should finally be rubber-stamped at a club General Meeting the following evening at the same venue.
The chances of FPS winning the necessary support have certainly increased following the withdrawal of the DBBT £250,000 counter proposal.
In a statement, the Trust gave their reasons for taking the offer off the table, citing a desire to concentrate more on trying to buy back Dens Park which is owned by
former Dundee United director John Bennett in the name of a company called Sandeman Holdings.
The statement read: “Further to the previously announced offer from the Dark Blue Business Trust (DBBT) to Dundee Football Club dated July 9 2013, the Trust wishes to confirm that its offer has been withdrawn.
“The Trust’s decision
follows a recent meeting with representatives of Football Partners Scotland (FPS), and allows the DFCSS members to clearly focus on FPS’s takeover proposals at the forthcoming SGM on the 12 August 2013.
“It will also enable the Trust to focus on addressing the extremely important matter of stadium ownership.
“To this end the Trust believes that it would be in the wider interest of Dundee Football Club and its supporters for the proposed cash injection to be targeted towards a stadium buy-back initiative rather than the purchase of DFC shares in exchange for a reinstated seat the Club Board.”
Meanwhile Gavin Rae is desperate to help Dundee regain their place in the top tier of Scottish football after seeing first hand just how much relegation last season hurt the club and the fans.
The midfielder was part of the Aberdeen side that secured a 1-1 draw at Dens back in May, a result which finally ended the Dark Blues’ brave battle against the drop.
Now, having returned to Dundee for his third stint at the club, he has been appointed skipper and is looking to lead John Brown’s side straight back to the Premiership.
He said: “Relegation was a sore one to take for Dundee. I felt for the fans as they are the lifeblood of the club but hopefully we can get them back to the top tier.
“If we play to our capabilities, then hopefully it can all go right for us.
“People will make us favourites but we’ve just got to concentrate on one game at a time and even grind out results when we’re not playing well because that’s what you have to do in this division.”
Former Rangers and Scotland star Rae admits that the unbeaten run of results in pre-season has given Dundee the perfect platform to mount their promotion push starting at Queen of the South on Saturday.
The 35-year-old added: “I feel as fit as I’ve ever done.
“The gaffer tells you what he expects and we’re all buzzing to get the real stuff going. We’ve done well in pre-season and hopefully we can carry that on into the new campaign.”