Crisis-hit Dundee were dealt a further, if anticipated, blow when on-loan midfielder Jamie Adams was recalled by St Johnstone.
This latest development means that new Dens Park boss Barry Smith’s options have been further reduced for his side’s next game against Dunfermline, following the axing of nine players by administrator Bryan Jackson last Friday.
Saints are believed to be owed a five-figure sum in unpaid wages for Adams from the Dark Blues.
However, Dundee had hoped that they could negotiate a deal to allow the player, who was outstanding for them at Stirling at the weekend, to stay at Dens until January.
Those talks fell through and Adams is set to train with his Perth team-mates today and could go straight into St Johnstone’s squad for their weekend SPL game at Hamilton.
McDiarmid Park boss Derek McInnes said, “We are pleased to have Jamie back. He went on loan to Dundee until Christmas to get competitive football and we have had very good reports on him over the last few months.
“Jamie went to Dundee and a manager he knew well in Gordon Chisholm. Obviously, it’s all change now given Dundee’s problems.”
Saints chairman Geoff Brown may have recalled Adams from Dundee but he still fervently hopes the Dark Blues can overcome the financial crisis which has put the club’s very existence into doubt.
“There’s no way I would like to see Dundee go under. Clubs like ourselves, Dundee United and Aberdeen want a strong Dundee,” he said.’Football people'”In monetary terms, two home games against them can add up to £200,000 but you have to be realistic. We have seen before what happens when people come in from further afield or abroad without a genuine feeling for a club. I’d like to see local football people come in.
“Talk of a football trust is all very well but that would be nonsensical. You need businessmen with the wherewithal and muscle to generate cash quickly to make the club viable.
“It’s a race against time, but we aren’t in the business of subsidising Dundee or any other club. No one can afford to do that. There was no chance of Jamie staying on there at our expense.”
Despite losing Adams on Wednesday, new Dundee boss Smith has been heartened by his players’ attitudes.
“I am just getting on with the job. That is all anyone can do,” he said. “It is what it is and we have all got to deal with what is in front of us.
“It is going to be difficult and there are tough times ahead for the club but on the park, we have been trying to keep things as normal as possible. The players have been great. They have been through a lot but they have been training away brilliantly and everyone is looking forward to the Dunfermline game now.
“From a personal point of view, I have seen most of the other teams over the last year. Things have not changed all that much. Obviously, having been at Brechin I have not been in and around the first division but I have reports on every team.
“So I will be cramming on them, getting up to speed to have as much information as I can but the main thing is always going to be how we play and the lads have shown me they are up the challenge.”One player who will still be available to Smith is David Witteveen. Hearts confirmed on Wednesday night that they would allow the striker to see out the remainder of the three-month loan agreement signed in August.