Dundee United clear £3m bank debt

DUNDEE United were last night celebrating after agreeing a deal to wipe out its debt to the bank – with a group of mystery investors playing a key role.

By EUAN MCARTHUR Saturday, 8th February 2014, 12:07 am

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson. Picture: Ian Rutherford/TSPL

Chairman Stephen Thompson is delighted to have struck a deal with the Bank of Scotland which he hopes will see United thrive financially in the future. He said: “In recent years we have worked closely with the bank to reduce our term loan debt by almost half, from a peak of £6 million to just over £3m today, whilst at the same time continuing to trade and operate the business as normal in a highly competitive and difficult market.

“At times this has been challenging, but we are now in a position whereby we feel able to operate the business without any further reliance on bank lending.”

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Meanwhile, as United prepare to face St Mirren in the Scottish Cup at Tannadice tomorrow, Stuart Armstrong revealed how Jim Goodwin texted him to say sorry for their Love Street clash in the wake of their powderkeg Boxing Day league clash.

Armstrong was on the receiving end of a forearm smash by Saints skipper Goodwin and United decided to send video footage of the controversial first-half incident to the SFA. Goodwin, who was substituted before half-time, was later hit with a two-match ban for violent conduct after Saints had swept to a 4-1 victory.

As the two teams prepare to go head-to-head for the first time since that eventful afternoon, Armstrong said that Irishman Goodwin took time out afterwards to apologise.

He said: “Jim Goodwin texted me to apologise after the game which was nice of him. I wasn’t happy at the time but it was good of him to get in touch.

“A few of the older boys in our team know him and say he’s a really nice guy out of football. I won’t seek him out before the game. These things happen in games. You have little tackles and incidents with different players but it’s all over after the game and you forget it. I don’t hold grudges. Tempers run high in games but it’s all good after it.

St Mirren manager Danny Lennon has also backed skipper Goodwin to brush off any ill feeling surrounding their previous meeting with United.

“Jim has worked hard and if anybody can get themselves through that, Jim can,” Lennon said. “I have been particularly pleased with the response from him in terms of that and we are working hard to ensure that he stays within the right laws of the game. If anyone can do it then a man with the character of Jim Goodwin can.”

Lennon also praised Goodwin recently for shrugging off a two-footed lunge by Partick Thistle defender Jordan McMillan, which earned the full-back a yellow card amid calls he should have been sent off.