DEFIANT DUNDEE have taken their battle with the SFA over the status of their youth set-up to ministerial level at the Scottish Parliament, writes Ian Roache.

Dens Park chief executive Dave MacKinnon had already enlisted the support of local MSP Joe FitzPatrick and the matter is now in the hands of Holyrood sports minister Stewart Maxwell.

The Dark Blues feel a sense of injustice over being removed from the SFA’s elite youth level because they did not have the necessary two SFA youth licence holders in place when they were audited in May.

Robbie Raeside had resigned weeks earlier and plans were in place to appoint John Holt in his stead.

MacKinnon claims he provided evidence to prove they were in the process of appointing Holt, all to no avail.

The SFA’s decision will cost the club £30,000 and Dundee are furious at what they perceive as SPL bias, especially as Stenhousemuir are the only SFL side to still receive full funding.

“The reason we were refused was that Robbie Raeside had resigned but we were in the process of appointing John Holt at the time,” he said.

“Everything was in place, it was just the paperwork that had to be processed.

“We provided documents to back this up but I understand those were not put in front of the committee.

“(SFA chief executive) Gordon Smith has said he would love to support us but he can’t because there is no right of appeal according to the Articles of Association.

“But the money comes from the government and the SFA are just the stakeholder.

“So we have enlisted the help of our MSP Joe FitzPatrick, who has raised the issue with the sports minister and he will be bringing it up in the Scottish Parliament.”

Dundee were faced with the prospect of scrapping their youth sides because they no longer have leagues to play in, but MacKinnon insists the club’s determination to proceed is as strong as ever.

“Instead of funding 30% of our youth budget it now only helps with 15%,” he said.

“Now our teams have no youth leagues to play in.

“That means we would have to tell 25 to 30 kids there is no point coming to Dundee because they won’t get the chance to face the likes of Rangers and Celtic.

“I know other clubs outwith the SPL are talking about scrapping their youth development because they feel there is no point any more.

“We had that choice, too, but instead we are going to stick two fingers up (to them) and keep going.

“Our programmes will continue and we will have the same amount of teams, even though they don’t have a league to play in.

“We are trying to create a new league with the other teams who have been demoted.

“Otherwise, you would lose a generation of players and there is no way of getting them back if that happens.”