There was drama at Tannadice as the transfer window closed when Dundee United rejected a late bid from Rangers to land winger Craig Conway.
In exchange for the loan of the Scottish Cup goal hero, Ibrox manager Walter Smith offered Andy Webster, who skippered United to glory at Hampden, back to the Tangerines for the rest of the season.
Conway, whose contract runs out in the summer, has had an injury-ravaged season but reminded everyone of his worth when he smashed home a brilliant goal against Hibs on Sunday.
Conway was, of course, the subject of a £600,000 approach from Middlesbrough in the summer, which was also knocked back by chairman Stephen Thompson and his board.
They will now lose Conway for nothing in May but they will have the considerable compensation of having a few more months’ worth of football from one of the top performers in the SPL on his day.
Instead of taking Webster back, United have gone down another route to bolster their defence.
Ajax defender Timothy van der Meulen has rejected a fresh one-year-deal with the famous Dutch club to try his luck at Tannadice.
In what turned out to be United’s only transaction on the final day of the transfer window, Van der Meulen paid the Tangerines a great compliment by deciding to join them until the end of the season rather than put pen to paper on a 12-month contract at the Amsterdam ArenA.
The 20-year-old joined Peter Houston’s side on trial last week and has impressed enough to persuade the manager to snap him up.
It was initially thought that Ajax were willing to let the former Holland under-17 international go but they then stated they wanted to hang on to him.
However, Van der Meulen decided to move to the SPL in order to gain first-team experience so has signed up until the summer.
United will then have first refusal on his signature, with Ajax willing to let him go if they get a slice of any future transfer fee.
“We have agreed with Timothy to come here until the end of the season,” said United boss Houston.
“Ajax offered him another year because they wanted him to stay but the boy is desperate to play football.
“We have first option to take him permanently at the end of the season but the deal is Ajax will want a cut of any future sell-on fee if we eventually move him on for money.”