Commercial
2024 CORPORATE GOLF DAY
16th May 2024
Dundee businessman Eddie Thompson is the new Chairman of Dundee United Football Club. He has taken outright control having acquired over 50 per cent of the Club's shares. It is the first time in the history of the Club that one individual has had outright control.
Eddie Thompson who is Chairman and Chief Executive of food retailer Morning Noon & Night has acquired the 42 per cent shareholding of former United Chairman and Manager Jim McLean. Mr McLean therefore no longer has any shareholding in Dundee United Football Club. He then took his shareholding to over 50 per cent by also acquiring the shares of current Directors Scott Carnegie, Gibby Haggart and Jim Barrie.
The new Board of Dundee United will now be as follows: Eddie Thompson, Chairman, plus Directors John Bennett, Scott Carnegie, Gibby Haggart, Derek Robertson and Eddie's son, Stephen Thompson.
In taking control Eddie Thompson paid special tribute to Jim McLean. He said, "Jim and myself have not always seen eye to eye but over the past few weeks a mutual respect has developed allowing the negotiations for Jim's shares to be conducted in a friendly and professional manner. Jim will not be involved with any Boardroom activity nor with the day to day running of the Club. However, I will be able to call on Jim's unrivalled knowledge of United and football in general on a one to one Consultancy basis as required.
"My Board has been chosen to bring to United an excellent mix of business knowledge and an understanding of the complexities involved today in running a football Club. Stephen and Derek, like myself, are long time United supporters and bring to the table vast business and commercial experience together with superb knowledge of the history of the Club and the various supporters' organisations. Scott, Gibby and John have done an excellent job since January and will now continue to be an integral part of my new Board. I would also like to thank Jim Barrie for his work during this period."
He continued, " This is a very special moment for myself. I have been working towards this goal for a number of years and at times thought that it would never happen. It is a great honour for me to become United's Chairman and the first majority shareholder in the Club's history.
"Dundee United supporters who are of course the lifeblood of the Club have continued to offer me encouragement in my efforts to take control of
Dundee United Football Club. I hope that from today I can start to pay them back for their support.
" It is now my intention to bring this Club some fresh inspiration, added motivation and, without any doubt, considerable determination for the task that lies ahead. Having said that, I am very well aware of the financial state of Scottish football and Dundee United is not immune to this. The Club will have to continue in the short to medium term the cost cutting exercise already put in place by the previous Board. Each Director will be a working Director who will be allocated responsibilities in line with their experience and they will assist me in ensuring that United can in the future begin to move forward.
"I would ask everyone connected with the Club to allow us time to settle in until I can see the full scale of the job ahead. My first task, however, will be to bring all United supporters totally behind the Club. I want to see a united United.
"Today is not, however, a day for promises. Its too early for that. I am aware that it is not an easy task that lies ahead and I am also aware of other business people who have found it difficult to carry their business success into football. I hope to bring new passion, stability, commitment and ambition into the Club eventually seeing us once again a major force in Scottish football.
"What happens on the pitch is obviously key to the future success of the Club. Therefore I want to wish our manager Alex Smith, his coaching staff and all our players every encouragement for the important televised home match against Rangers on Saturday. They, like all our employees have had to be patient while various changes have been made at the Club. I am now bringing them stability and hopefully the basis for future success at Dundee United."
Jim McLean said, "I want to offer my congratulations and support to Eddie Thompson and the new Board of Dundee United. By selling my shares, as I said I would, and assisting Eddie in becoming majority shareholder we have created a new stability at the Club which I am sure will be welcomed by everyone."
Eddie Thompson who is Chairman and Chief Executive of food retailer Morning Noon & Night has acquired the 42 per cent shareholding of former United Chairman and Manager Jim McLean. Mr McLean therefore no longer has any shareholding in Dundee United Football Club. He then took his shareholding to over 50 per cent by also acquiring the shares of current Directors Scott Carnegie, Gibby Haggart and Jim Barrie.
The new Board of Dundee United will now be as follows: Eddie Thompson, Chairman, plus Directors John Bennett, Scott Carnegie, Gibby Haggart, Derek Robertson and Eddie's son, Stephen Thompson.
In taking control Eddie Thompson paid special tribute to Jim McLean. He said, "Jim and myself have not always seen eye to eye but over the past few weeks a mutual respect has developed allowing the negotiations for Jim's shares to be conducted in a friendly and professional manner. Jim will not be involved with any Boardroom activity nor with the day to day running of the Club. However, I will be able to call on Jim's unrivalled knowledge of United and football in general on a one to one Consultancy basis as required.
"My Board has been chosen to bring to United an excellent mix of business knowledge and an understanding of the complexities involved today in running a football Club. Stephen and Derek, like myself, are long time United supporters and bring to the table vast business and commercial experience together with superb knowledge of the history of the Club and the various supporters' organisations. Scott, Gibby and John have done an excellent job since January and will now continue to be an integral part of my new Board. I would also like to thank Jim Barrie for his work during this period."
He continued, " This is a very special moment for myself. I have been working towards this goal for a number of years and at times thought that it would never happen. It is a great honour for me to become United's Chairman and the first majority shareholder in the Club's history.
"Dundee United supporters who are of course the lifeblood of the Club have continued to offer me encouragement in my efforts to take control of
Dundee United Football Club. I hope that from today I can start to pay them back for their support.
" It is now my intention to bring this Club some fresh inspiration, added motivation and, without any doubt, considerable determination for the task that lies ahead. Having said that, I am very well aware of the financial state of Scottish football and Dundee United is not immune to this. The Club will have to continue in the short to medium term the cost cutting exercise already put in place by the previous Board. Each Director will be a working Director who will be allocated responsibilities in line with their experience and they will assist me in ensuring that United can in the future begin to move forward.
"I would ask everyone connected with the Club to allow us time to settle in until I can see the full scale of the job ahead. My first task, however, will be to bring all United supporters totally behind the Club. I want to see a united United.
"Today is not, however, a day for promises. Its too early for that. I am aware that it is not an easy task that lies ahead and I am also aware of other business people who have found it difficult to carry their business success into football. I hope to bring new passion, stability, commitment and ambition into the Club eventually seeing us once again a major force in Scottish football.
"What happens on the pitch is obviously key to the future success of the Club. Therefore I want to wish our manager Alex Smith, his coaching staff and all our players every encouragement for the important televised home match against Rangers on Saturday. They, like all our employees have had to be patient while various changes have been made at the Club. I am now bringing them stability and hopefully the basis for future success at Dundee United."
Jim McLean said, "I want to offer my congratulations and support to Eddie Thompson and the new Board of Dundee United. By selling my shares, as I said I would, and assisting Eddie in becoming majority shareholder we have created a new stability at the Club which I am sure will be welcomed by everyone."
