Fears grow for Dundee as Calum Melville walks out

THERE are concerns over the future of Dundee Football Club after it emerged yesterday that financial backer Calum Melville has offered his resignation from the club's board, just days after he was suspended from his post with an offshore safety firm.

• Calum Melville. Pic SNS

Melville was due to appear at an employment tribunal yesterday, where Dundee were to meet former manager Jocky Scott and his assistant Ray Farningham in an action brought over their sackings earlier this year.

But he failed to turn up, with the club's solicitor having been advised that Melville was "not physically and mentally capable" of attending.

The other Dens Park directors held an emergency meeting yesterday evening at a local solicitors office to discuss ways to persuade Melville - who was not present - to continue his involvement.

However, it broke up at 7.15pm without any progress being made and Melville's offer to resign remains on the table. Another meeting will be scheduled for within the next 48 hours, and Dundee will spend that time pleading with Melville to continue his association, even though he has indicated his desire to step down.

Club chief executive Harry MacLean said: "The board will reconvene before the end of the week after further discussion with Calum. We have no further comment to make until we speak to Calum."

Former chairman Bob Brannan, who stepped down from his role earlier this month, would also not be drawn on the club's future. He said: "We've said all there is to say."

Melville joined the Dundee board in 2009 after replying to a newspaper advert seeking new investment. The Aberdeen-based millionaire shelled out significantly last season to land big-money signings such as 265,000 pair Leigh Griffiths and Gary Harkins.

But since Dundee were pipped to promotion by Inverness after sacking manager Jocky Scott - when Dundee were top of the league by three points - and replaced him with Gordon Chisholm, Melville's interest appeared to have waned.

The club have seen a 40 per cent drop in budget this season and currently lie in seventh place in the First Division.

Melville has recently had issues in his business life, having been suspended by employer Cosalt from his day-to-day duties, where he also resigned from their board of directors.

The 41-year-old sold his family business to the Grimsby-based firm in 2007 for a reported 30 million fee but, along with his brother Stuart - who is also under suspension - was left to run the company on Cosalt's behalf. News of Melville's attempt to resign came at yesterday's tribunal. Scott and his former right-hand man are believed to have been claiming up to 250,000 for being relieved of their duties.

The tribunal was postponed in Melville's absence, with Dundee's solicitor Noele McClelland saying: "Our first witness was due to be Calum Melville, director of the respondents, but he has tendered his resignation to the board.

"He is unable to be here due to his own personal difficulties with his own employers, Cosalt, and could not devote any time to these proceedings.

"We are advised that he is just not physically and mentally capable of being here today."

Should Melville, who owns no shares in Dundee, withdraw his financial backing the consequences could be serious for the First Division outfit.

They have consistently run at a loss since suffering relegation in 2005 and have relied on input from directors to keep the business running.

The club were put into administration in 2003 with debts of 26 million and, therefore, have no overdraft facility from their bank.

They also sold their Dens Park stadium to John Bennett, an associate director of Dundee United who has been persistently linked with a takeover of Dundee, in a debt restructuring deal two years ago.

Former manager Alan Kernaghan, who was appointed boss following the club's relegation to the First Division but lasted less than a year, admits he fears for the club's future if Melville walks away. He said: "It's very worrying times. I can understand why the Dundee fans feel that way right now.

"You have to fear the worst in a situation like this because Mr Melville has put so much into the club since he's been there and these kind of guys are few and far between these days.

"It would be unthinkable for the unthinkable to happen but that's football. We've seen it many times before. I sincerely hope it doesn't but if someone else doesn't step in then that could happen.

"It would be a real shame because Dundee are a very proud club with a lot of history built up over the years.

"It is perilous times for a lot of Scottish clubs. When one man hold all the aces there's always a danger of this kind of thing happening.

"I just hope that something can be done to avoid the worst-case scenario."

Melville was unavailable for comment last night.

l Partick Thistle chairman Allan Cowan is stepping down from his post after four years in office at Firhill.

Cowan has resigned along with vice-chairman Tom Hughes.. Jim Alexander, previously an associate director, is to join the board.