Queen’s Park have voiced fears that Dundee United will try to exploit a loophole over a development fee for Aidan Connolly, if as expected the transfer goes ahead.
The Tannadice club have insisted that talks between the two managers are progressing amicably.
Connolly, who is 17 and leaving school this summer, has had an impressive first season as the Spiders just missed out on the Second Division play-offs and has told them that he will snub advances from England to head north where his dad Paddy was a hero in the 1980s and 1990s.
Queen’s have claimed that when United recruited Barry Douglas from them three years ago they offered a four-figure development fee before using a loophole caused by the Hampden side’s amateur status to avoid paying it.
They added that they are hoping that this time out they receive a payment for the five years that they have spent nurturing Connolly.
A spokesperson at the club said: “Other clubs are aware of the loophole but choose to pay us a development fee or make a donation to our youth set-up.
“Dundee United offered a fee and then never paid it which was disappointing.
“We thought it was very ironic when their chairman was asked about their player Johnny Russell recently and was reported as saying: ‘We have invested heavily in our youth set-up over the last few years and expect to receive a decent return on this investment when players move on’.
“Hopefully he feels the same way about our youth development programme this time out.”
United are happy that if Connolly does indeed choose them, a gentleman’s agreement will be struck.
A spokesperson said: “Jackie McNamara and Gardner Speirs have held amicable talks to ensure all parties are happy with any possible move.”