By Ian Roache

DUNDEE CHAIRMAN Bob Brannan has insisted he and his board are in “no rush” to relinquish power at Dens.

When Brannan and his consortium—also comprising chief executive Dave MacKinnon, George Knight, the director representing fans’ organisation Dee4Life, and chartered accountant Ian Bodie—took formal control of the Dark Blues in March last year, he quickly stated he would “happily step aside” should a bona fide buyer appear on the scene.

Wealthy Dundee United director John Bennett, who could not be contacted by Courier Sport yesterday, is reputed to be showing an interest in acquiring a stake in the city’s other senior team.

However, with Dundee still a work in progress, Brannan stressed he is happy to continue building what he hopes will be a Premier League outfit come this time next year.

He also revealed that the finance to fund the series of signings being made ahead of that promotion push has come from close to home.

“I have been a Dundee supporter all my life and it’s an honour to be chairman,” said Brannan.

“At some stage I realise someone else will take over and I will go back to sitting in the stand and cheering the team on.

“For the time being, though, I am happy to be involved.

“I am in no rush to go anywhere and we have unfinished business at this club.

“As for others being interested in investing we tend not to talk about things until they happen.

“There has been a bit of money coming in over the last six months or so.

“It is no secret that it’s impossible to break even in the first division and there is no overdraft facility here.

“So there have been a number of people, including members of the board, investing in the club.

“We all want Dundee to succeed and there are positive things happening just now, with new players arriving and another two or three to follow.

“I think we will be a formidable force in the first division next season.”

Brannan also promised “stability” when he took charge 14 months ago, and he believes that has been achieved.

“We have a nice set-up at board level and we have people who see the world in the same way as each other—that is important,” he added.

“Our chief executive Dave MacKinnon has brought professionalism to his role, while we have an excellent management team in Alex Rae and Davie Farrell.

“In any business that I have been involved in, progress has been achieved by doing the right things on a consistent basis.

“We have improved each season under Alex and if we can take another step forward then we will win promotion.”

Brannan admitted the failure to reach the SPL last term was a severe setback.

“Of course we were disappointed not to go up,” he said.

“We had very good players at the club—I think they were, man for man, the best in the division.

“However, Hamilton just had that bit of resilience about them. They got off to a good start and even when they looked like slipping up they just managed to get back on track.

“Obviously, their plastic pitch was a factor and I think even they would admit that.

“But we prefer to look forward rather than back and it’s all about building for next season.”

Whether star midfielder Kevin McDonald will be there to kick off the 2008-09 campaign remains to be seen.

“It is ongoing with Kevin, with a number of people still expressing an interest,” added the Dens chairman.

“The transfer window does not close until August 31 so there is no rush.

“There is a wee bit of inevitability about it given how good a player Kevin is, though.

“We were disappointed to lose Scott Robertson (to United) but recognised he wanted to play in the SPL and he will do well there.

“Kevin can play at SPL level or even higher and we certainly won’t hold him back. But the offer needs to be right for us and make financial sense.”