Tony Asghar has hailed the impending return of Dundee United’s youth teams to Gussie Park.
The training ground, in the shadow of Tannadice, has received huge investment in recent years.
Tangerines owner Mark Ogren and the Dundee United Supporters’ Foundation (DUSF) have both contributed large sums to fund upgrades at Gussie – and United’s under-18s and women’s teams are set to base themselves there next season.
The quality of the new facilities will provide players with a first rate environment in which to work.
But the Tangerines’ sporting director believes playing within sight of Tannadice will provide an additional incentive to everyone who takes the field at Gussie.
He said: “Gussie Park is hugely important to us. When Mark first came into the club one of the first things he did was buy Gussie back off the owners.
“The pitch wasn’t conducive to Club Academy Scotland and we were failing in a lot of areas.
“The floodlights weren’t up to date and we had to look at how we were going to build it.
“We had to start turning it into a place, similar to what previous owners had done, that would see players coming through from there.
“Having it in the shadow of Tannadice is a huge incentive to players. We now have the pitch laid and new floodlights put in, thanks to the money Mark Ogren has invested along with the Dundee United Supporters’ Foundation and grant money obtained by DUCT.
“It’s a great partnership and is working well.
“Our under-18 teams will be based there next season. The Community Trust have a partnership that will see them working more at Gussie Park.
“It will also be a base for the Women’s team next year as they have been promoted to the SWPL.
“It’s really important to have a base in Dundee.”
United’s first team stars train at the same St Andrews University grounds used by the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United in recent years, while on summer training camps.
The facilities are excellent – and United have no plans to leave their accommodation there.
But Asghar recognises the value of the Tangerines having a full-time presence in the city of Dundee itself.
He said: “Being in St Andrews is fantastic. The University facilities are brilliant but we need an identity here and need the supporters of Dundee to see we are in the city – rather than just turning up for matchdays.
“It’s really important to us and I’m delighted that we have started to progress the first phase of Gussie Park.
“At the Academy awards a few years ago John Souttar did a video message where he spoke about training with Dave Bowman at Gussie Park. Dave Bowman was pointing to Tannadice and telling him: ‘If you work hard, that’s where you will go.’
“Nothing we are doing is re-writing a book. We are looking at how things were successful before and adapting and adding to it.
“That whole concept is great.
“Dave Bowman is still with the under-18s and is going to be training over there next season with the next stage of the academy kids who are trying to get to Tannadice.”
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