Maurice Kidd, one of the three remaining Dundee FC directors, has defended the role of the Dundee FC Supporters’ Society, the group he represents in the boardroom, after a day of drama at Dens Park.
Kidd was joined by fellow DFCSS director Dave Forbes as he spoke out in the wake of the decision by their now former colleagues Steve Martin, Bill Colvin and Ian Crighton to quit the Dark Blues’ board.
The letters of resignation went to Dens chief executive Scot Gardiner just hours after Texas-based group Keyes Capital, fronted by John Nelms and Tim Keyes, took their proposed offer of investment in the club off the table.
The tipping point for the Americans was the statement from the DFCSS on Tuesday, in which the society called for more information, said they had not seen a formal proposal and postponed their planned June 15 ballot of members.
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In response, Keyes Capital said they could not accept these “onerous terms” and called the forwarding of them from a “shareholder in receipt of an unconditional offer of a cash equity injection” as “bizarre.”
Kidd gave the society’s side of the story, stressing that he and his fellow DFCSS directors are taking a responsible stance given Dundee’s troubled history of two administrations.
Emphasis was placed on Kidd, Forbes and the third DFCSS director, Fraser MacDonald, not having seen any formal plans from the Texans.
He also kept the door open for Martin, Colvin and Crighton to come back on board.
With Forbes sitting by his side at a city hotel, Kidd said: “We are extremely disappointed at the news of the resignations from fellow directors and I would urge them to reconsider and return to the boardroom table, especially at such an important stage of planning for next season.
“DFCSS has not rejected any bid and we are keen to continue dialogue. We are open to investment in the club. However, more information is required.
“All we are doing is following the structures put in place after the previous administrations. I think the least the fans would expect is that we go through due diligence.
“It is within the society rules that a ‘sufficiently important’ decision such as this should go back to the fans. Morally we have to go to them and give them the information.
“This club has been in administration twice and Dundee FC has to be on its guard. Look back to what has happened before, people fought hard to save this club.
“So let’s go through the proper channels and we can make progress on this.
“I personally emailed John Nelms and Bill Colvin after the statement released by the society yesterday saying it was my belief that the proposal could progress if there could be an understanding of the requirements of the society.
“The main stumbling blocks appear to be the society’s need for due diligence to take place and the consortium’s wish to give the manager immediate funding to strengthen the team for next season.
“These are obstacles we believe can be overcome if all the parties draw breath.”
There was also the claim that they were not being allowed to see details, with Kidd saying: “We can’t understand why we’re not getting to see the plans. Does it set alarm bells ringing? I think it would in anyone.
“I am sure there is nothing to hide but let’s get around the table, be open and transparent, give everyone the information and move it forward.
“A three-year financial plan and budget exists, but despite being told we would receive (it) from the directors (Colvin and Martin) on their return from the United States and despite requesting sight of it at the board meeting on May 14, it has still not been handed over.
“It remains in the hands of the three other directors and the chief executive.”