Dundee will play in the SPL this season after the league opted to make them ‘Club 12’ following the demise of Rangers.
The Dens Park side finished runners-up in the First Division last season but are being promoted after the Ibrox club collapsed amid an ongoing financial crisis. On Friday, the ‘newco’ club formed by Charles Green was invited to join Scottish football in Division 3.
Dunfermline had also staked a claim to take Rangers’ SPL place but, because the Glasgow side made it to the end of the season before collapsing, the rules made the Dark Blues the strong favourites to step up after seven years out of the top flight.
The decision to admit Dundee was taken by the SPL clubs’ chairmen at their annual meeting at Hampden on Monday.
It is understood neither Dundee or Dunfermline were invited to the meeting to make their case, although there was representation from Rangers.
The decisions means football fans in Dundee can look forward to even more derbies after a friendly at the weekend attracted over 10,000 spectators.
Barry Smith’s men will open their campaign at Kilmarnock on August 4, before a first home game against St Mirren a week later.
They will then meet Dundee United in the first city derby at Tannadice on August 18.For full coverage of today’s decision, and reaction from Dundee and Dunfermline, see Tuesday’s Courier