Dundee rivals request groundshare

Dens Park and Tannadice currently share the same street

Dundee's two professional clubs have written to the Scottish Premierleague to ask for permission to groundshare in the future.

Both the Dark Blues and United are looking for shared facilities as part of the Euro 2008 bid.

Stadia given Euro 2008 boost

And now Dundee and Tannadice chairmen Jimmy Marr and Scott Carnegie have made a formal request to the SPL.

The pair are looking for special dispensation on SPL rules which currently say clubs cannot groundshare.

As the clubs are not attempting a back-door entry into the league, they hope chiefs will allow the move into a 30,000-seater ground at the city's Caird Park.

But SPL chief executive Roger Mitchell insists the Dundee clubs must allow on the rest of the top flight to decide on the proposal before it can progress.

We believe that a distinction can and should be made to allow the football teams of Dundee and Dundee United to share the same stadium

Joint letter to the SPL

The chairmen said in the letter: "The directors of Dundee FC and Dundee United FC appreciate that this is a very difficult and emotive issue, given that the winner of the First Division has in the past been prevented from being promoted to the Scottish Premierleague because they were unable to meet the stadium criteria."

Falkirk have repeatedly missed out on promotion to the Scottish Premier League as a result of their Brockville stadium failing to meet SPL standards.

The SPL requires clubs being promoted to have an all-seated stadium of more than 10,000 capacity.

Grounds to be a hot issue?

The letter continued: "Notwithstanding this, we believe that a distinction can and should be made to allow the football teams of Dundee and Dundee United to share the same stadium.

"Both clubs have already spent considerable sums of money upgrading their existing stadia to meet SPL guidelines.

This is a decision for all 12 clubs at a general meeting

SPL chief executive Roger Mitchell

"Accordingly, this would not represent a `back-door' means of a football club obtaining entry to the SPL."

Mitchell maintains the matter must receive the backing of at least 11 SPL clubs at a general meeting of top flight clubs next month.

He said: "We have received correspondence from both Dundee clubs regarding a ground sharing proposal related to the Euro 2008 bid.

"I advised the clubs of their need to bring this matter before the other clubs and they have now done this.

"This is a decision for all 12 clubs at a general meeting.