Dundee director's masterplan

Giovanni di Stefano is causing a stir after becoming a director

Controversial lawyer Giovanni di Stefano intends challenging the spending of the Old Firm - starting with two "big-name" signings for Dundee before the transfer deadline.

Di Stefano, who was confirmed as a new director at Dens Park in midweek, says he is prepared to invest the £26m he made from the sale of Belgrade club Obilic.

His aim is to break the Old Firm duopoly in the Scottish Premier League, starting with the signing of one player from the English Premiership and another from the top flight of another European league.

Di Stefano told the Your Call programme on BBC Radio Scotland: "We are hoping to be able to match the Old Firm.

"The Old Firm is the Old Firm, but they are going to have to make way for the New Firm."

I have given authority to the chief executive to secure those two players Dundee director Giovanni di Stefano

In order to do that, Di Stefano says he is prepared to give manager Jim Duffy as much money as is required to bring success to Dens Park.

"If I give £5m, £10m or £20m, it is only a proportion of what I have been fortunate to make in life. It will not bankrupt me," he told the Sunday Times.

"We have to make available to the manager whatever player, within logical and sensible reason, that would be good for the club.

"I have a great respect for Mr Duffy. If he wants a £3m player, we will get him."

Di Stefano's involvement with Dundee extends back to a failed attempt to buy the club four years ago, when some of his less reputable associates were revealed.

He had been prepared to legally defend Serbian paramilitary leader Arkan against an indictment for war crimes and is currently representing serial killer Harold Shipman.

Part of his investment at Dens will be the financing of a replacement for the south stand at Dens Park, which itself will cost up to £4m.

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