D-day for Dundee: Nobody should party if we win administration fight, says supporters' chief

DUNDEE fans' chief Stuart Murphy last night insisted nobody at Dens Park should celebrate if they win the vote to take the club out of administration ... reports the Daily Record.

Accountant Bryan Jackson will offer creditors just 6p in the pound as he looks to settle the club's £2.3million of debts - and rates his chances of success at just 50-50.

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs have already indicated they will be voting against the proposal today.

And they will be joined by other creditors, meaning Jackson faces a sweat to see if he gets the 75 per cent majority required.

Even if he gets his plans through it is likely HMRC will launch a court action.

Murphy is secretary of the Dundee Football Club Supporters Society (DFCSS), who plan to buy 51 per cent of the club's shares post-administration.

But if there is good news today he insists it won't be a time for cheering, with local businesses set to lose thousands.

He said: "I'm not making predictions, other than to say I'm cautiously optimistic.

"But even if the Creditors' Voluntary Agreement is approved there will be no whooping.

"It would be wrong to celebrate because too many people have suffered.

Sacrifices "There is a long way to go before long-term survival and this is just one of the hurdles we have to clear to get there.

"We are more determined than ever to do so and if everyone with the best interests of Dundee at heart keeps up their work our chances will improve greatly.

"I really can't speak highly enough of the fans. The way they have rallied round to raise and donate money - often making personal sacrifices - has been absolutely astonishing.

"It has been heartening to see how the whole community has come together. The players, staff, management, fans, business community and everyone else deserve a positive outcome. Hopefully that's what we'll get."

That is a view shared by Jackson, who was init ial ly reluctant to take on the job of saving Dundee but changed his mind when he saw the depth of local feeling for the club.

He said: "I took this job on the basis there would be great local support.

"There would have been no point in doing it because there was no other exit route other than through the supporters.

"Their response has been fantast ic. The staff and the present directors have also rallied around. There has been a great siege mentality.

"The negative was the SFL sanctions but there was a positive out of that because it made everyone that bit stronger.

"The other big positive - and the most surprising one - is the team's run of nine wins and four draws since administration.

"How can that happen with a guy, Barry Smith, who had not managed before and a pool of about 12 first-team players?"