INTERNET BOOKMAKERS McBookie face their biggest loss of the new season if Dundee win the first division, writes Graeme Dey.

The free-spending Dark Blues have been heavily backed by punters, leaving the city-based firm facing a five-figure liability should they lift the championship.

While Dundee have been splashing the cash this summer, spending £265,000 on the likes of Gary Harkins and Leigh Griffiths, it is their fans who hope to be raking it in at the end of the season.

McBookie.com spokes-man Paul Petrie, a former Brechin City player, admits the firm stands to lose a significant sum if the Dens men achieve their dream of getting back into the SPL.

“It seems that with every big signing Dundee make the more people want to back them,” he said.

“In fact, we don’t need to check the news any more, because we have one punter who has backed them consistently with every player who has put pen to paper.

“So we know when he bets on them something is happening at Dens Park.

“At first we had Dundee and Inverness Caley Thistle level pegging at 9-4, but we have had to cut them several times and they are now 11-8 clear favourites on their own.”