Dundee United are forging plans to establish a lucrative new sister club in the United States.

On Wednesday night Stephen Thompson confirmed he will step down from his position at Tannadice chairman at the end of the season.

And Sportsmail understands the club's majority shareholder now intends to spearhead a £3million bid to enter an umbrella club in the newly formed National Independent Soccer Association.

Dundee United Stephen Thompson will spearhead a £3million bid for new club in the NISA

Established by former Chicago Fire chief Peter Wilt, NISA plans to establish itself as the third tier of the United States Soccer Federation below Major League Soccer (MLS) and United Soccer League (USL).

Linked with a £2.5million takeover of a Australian club Newcastle Jets in 2015, Thompson has now switched his focus to American cities with high populations and no professional soccer clubs after a number of fact-finding trips to the States.

A director of Club 9 Sports, the Chicago sports consultancy previously involved in a bid for Rangers, Peter Wilt on Wednesday night declined to comment when Sportsmail asked him to confirm Thompson's ambitious blueprint for a team in NISA.

Announcing an end to his 10 years as Tannadice chairman Thompson said: 'It has been a real honour to serve Dundee United.

'I have always tried to achieve the best for the club and there have been many, many happy occasions of which I am very proud.

'The Scottish Cup win in 2010 was a high point in my and many other United fans' life.

Dundee United could benefit from having a sister club in the third tier of American football

'Relegation was a profound disappointment that will never leave me but the club is in the fortunate position of having a very strong board of directors and a financial robustness that is assisted by a number of benefactors who have been very supportive through recent years.'

Dundee United director Mike Martin is expected to become the club's new chairman after securing a deal to purchase the 33 per cent shareholding of former director Justine Mitchell - Thompson's sister - at the end of 2017.

Martin is also likely to play a leading role in a new parent company established to dovetail the financial fortunes of Dundee United and a new soccer operation.

United are currently in their second season in the Championship sitting second, 11 points behind leaders St Mirren.