Dundee United fans are preparing an ambitious fundraising scheme to build a statue in honour of club legend Jim McLean.
The Steering Group, a coalition of most Dundee United supporter groups, will soon be setting up a fundraising page to raise £75,000 for a statue outside Tannadice.
The Steering Group was set up specifically to look into raising the cash for the commemoration and is made up of representatives from the club itself, Dundee United Business Club, Fans United, ULT83, Dundee United Supporters’ Foundation and ArabTrust.
Plans for the statue were first mooted last year and efforts to raise cash will now move up a gear.
A spokesman said: “The Steering Group was set up by the Dundee United Supporters’ Liaison Group to investigate building a permanent monument to commemorate and honour Jim McLean.
“The first meeting of the group took place at Tannadice before Saturday’s game against Partick Thistle.
“Look out for announcements over the weeks ahead once the group is able to confirm key details.”
The spokesman anticipates that it will take about a year-and-a-half to raise the money.
You can now get an exclusive print commemorating Dundee United's 1983 Premier League title win. All profits will go towards the fund raising for a statue of the man who masterminded that triumph, Jim McLean. Email info@dusf.scot to order | #DUFC
594 x 841 mm, 23.4 x 33.1 in. pic.twitter.com/es6IHt9TIN
— Ceres Arabs (@CeresArabs) August 26, 2018
As the campaign is in its early stages, only a few methods to raise the money have been decided.
One method already available is the sale of an exclusive print commemorating the club’s 1983 Premier League title win. Proceeds from the sale will go to the pot for the statue.
It is understood the group have discussed plans with two architects for designs of the statue. The full £75,000 will not need to be raised before the project gets underway as some things can be started and paid for on a rolling basis before it is complete.
McLean’s trophy-laden era saw the side win both Premier League and league cup and sweep aside some of the world’s best sides, including AS Monaco, PSV Eindhoven and Werder Bremen.
His team also reached the semi-final of the 1984 European Cup and the UEFA Cup final in 1987.
And under his tutelage, United famously beat Barcelona home and away in 1986/87, to take the Tannadice side’s record against the Catalans to four out of four after two previous victories in 1966/1967.
Although he is closely associated with United’s most successful period, he also played for Dundee FC for a spell in the 60s.
Mr McLean, who recently turned 81, has been suffering ill health recently. His family have given the plans for a statue their seal of approval.
