Levein wants city rivals to win title
united manager eager for competitive derby
Published:
CRAIG Levein hopes tonight’s friendly Dundee derby will be a taster for things to come next season.
The Dundee United manager is backing Jocky Scott to lead city rivals Dundee to the First Division title and into the SPL next term.
That will put derbies back on the agenda for the first time in seven seasons, with Levein looking at the financial implications as well as renewing the rivalry between the clubs.
Supporters will have to make do with tonight’s Tannadice friendly, which has been arranged to unveil United’s new £250,000 floodlight system, with all proceeds being split equally and handed to the clubs’ youth development programmes.
Levein said: “I’m desperate for Dundee to win the First Division and get back to the SPL for next season.
“That’s for a variety of reasons, obviously it means a financial boost for us because I’d imagine the derby games would be the biggest gate of the season.
“It’s also great for the city and the supporters because it’s the first game they look for when the fixtures are announced.
“I know from my time at Hearts when the games are published the fans immediately scan the list to see when they are playing their nearest rivals.
“When you have a city derby you have to accept the fact when you lose one it feels like the end of the world.
“But you can’t beat the excitement a derby brings to a season and the supporters are the ones who make the fixture.
“There are very few teams who have 11 supporters on the field, although we’ve got a few here at Dundee United and I’m sure Dundee will have a couple as well.
“We’ll have a good side out, the likes of Steve Banks, Scott Robertson, Prince Buaben, Craig Conway, Danny Cadamarteri, Darren Dods and Danny Swanson will all play.
“We’re on a bit of a roll just now so I don’t want to lose that. We’re not messing about, the team I play will be as strong as we’ve got available.”
Dundee manager Scott, who is minus Leigh Griffiths and Chris Casement because of international call-ups, has tasted derby days as both a player and manager so knows exactly what it means.
He said: “It’s a great one. Supporters have been starved of derby matches for a lot of years now and there’s no bigger game on the calendar.
“When Dundee play Dundee United in a competitive game it’s the most important of the season.
“I’ve missed them and want to be involved in them, that’s why we’re so desperate to get back to the SPL.”
