Thompson talks begin

Steven Thompson is now a Scotland regular

Dundee United are to begin talks in the next few days in an attempt to prevent Scotland striker Steven Thompson leaving the club for nothing in the summer.

New Tannadice owner Eddie Thompson is angry that recently sacked manager Alex Smith and the previous board had not already moved to secure the 23-year-old on a new deal.

Striker Thompson is out of contract next summer.

By then, he will have turned 24 and be able to leave for another club without United being due any compensation.

He can begin talking to potential new clubs in January.

I will be sitting down with Steven within the next few days

United chairman Eddie Thompson

The club chairman said: "This situation should not have been left to me to deal with.

"When you know you have got the January gap coming up and his contract expiring next summer, you really should be doing this several months before now.

"I will be sitting down with Steven within the next few days.

"First of all, these will be initial discussions just to voice our own immediate thoughts because we have had no discussions.

"We are both fairly new to each other and then we can get down to more detailed discussions where Steven might want to bring other representatives with him.

"I will see what he says when I sit down with him for a brief chat.

"But the aim of this is simply to keep Steven Thompson at Tannadice."

Thompson recently broke into the Scotland set-up and scored in the recent 3-1 win over Canada.