Dundee director Calum Melville is thought to have invested �1.3m in the club in the past season

By Jim Spence

An influential Dundee supporters' group has voiced concerns over the financial future of the Dens Park club.

The letter from the Dee4Life Trust comes only a week after chairman Bob Brannan warned of budget cuts for the Dark Blues next season.

Dee4LifeTrust chairman Scott Glenday warned in the letter the club must be run in a more sustainable manner.

"The club's auditors rightly expressed their doubts over the club's viability as a going concern," he said.

"After our own experience, and what's happened over the last few years whether at Rangers and Portsmouth or Livingston and Gretna, Dee4Life would reiterate the belief that Dundee Football Club must operate in a sustainable manner."

The letter to trust members pointed out the dangers of relying on wealthy individuals to sustain the club.

"Even if losses are offset by donations from one or more directors, it's for sure that that can only last so long.

"With a much higher wage bill than in recent years, lengthy contracts, and no guarantee of promotion, the club cannot be dependent on one person's goodwill - even with the best of intentions, experience at other clubs has shown this is not a safe or sustainable way to run a business."

Dundee's major investor, Calum Melville, is thought to have pumped around £1.3m into last season's unsuccessful promotion campaign.

He has already indicated that he will not be spending the same amount of money next season on the club.

Last week Brannan, who is set to stand down as chairman, called on fans to give increased financial backing next season.

"If the fans don't get behind the club, there will be no club," Brannan told BBC Scotland.

"Calum Melville is still very supportive, but the budget has to be at a more realistic level."

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