Not expected to attend any meetings at Dens was director Giovanni di Stefano, who has publicly stated his opposition to administration. He was in London today and is expected to return home to Italy tonight to watch his son play football for his school team,

In the absence of di Stefano and any of the seven-figure sum he had been expected to invest to safeguard Dundee’s future, the way would appear clear for remaining directors Peter Marr, his brother Jimmy and Jim Connor to vote to have an administrator appointed.

That process is unlikely to be completed before Monday or Tuesday, but, by next week, the club, with debts in excess of £13 million, will be in administration.

Meanwhile, Dundee have angrily denied acting clandestinely in asking for any money that comes from the SPL to be paid to Deanside Ltd, a company which, on paper, is owned by Celtic and Scotland keeper Rab Douglas, who is also Peter Marr’s son-in-law.

Had they received any money for defender Zura Khizanishvili, it would have been paid into the Deanside bank account, but the club stressed this has become normal practice with all monies received via the SPL.

“For the last year, we have been in dispute with our former manager Ivano Bonetti. He is due money from us, but agreement on how much has not been reached,” said spokesman Niall Scott. “In that time, Ivano has instructed his lawyers to have any money paid to us from the SPL arrested. That is not a criticism of him, it is a statement of fact.

“We could not afford for that to happen and, therefore, the money has gone into another account. This has been done with the knowledge of the SPL and when the matter was raised by Rangers at the Khizanishvili tribunal last Friday, the SPL found in our favour. We are extremely unhappy at any suggestion that we have been doing something untoward.”

The club are also furious at another report claiming they informed Gavin Rae and Lee Wilkie of their financial plight prior to them playing against Holland on Wednesday. An SFA official was contacted during the 6-0 defeat and the two were warned after the final whistle they could face questions at the after-match Press conference about the Dens financial crisis.

Further, the Court of Session said that so far, no petition had yet been lodged.

While administration is essentially a rescue venture, whoever is leading the charge to keep the club in existence via delayed or rescheduled payment of debts, also has the absolute power to sell off its assets.

That could mean high-earning stars whose weekly wages are bleeding off the lifeblood of the club.

If Motherwell is any example, Dens fans must fear their cosmopolitan squad could be wrecked, with big earners such as Fabrizio Ravanelli and Craig Burley firmly in the administrator’s sights.

When the Steelmen went into administration, 19 of its players were sacked. With debts said to be in excess of £13 million, Dundee’s predicament could be even worse.

Administration is a legal device by which companies can get court protection to fend off creditors who otherwise could plunge a financially crippled club like Dundee FC into liquidation.

It means that instead of being forced to pay off debts at perhaps a fraction of their worth, a company could delay or reschedule payments while a rescue plan is formulated, with an asset fire sale a real possibility.

It is a fairly recent UK phenomenon, imported from the USA, but which has been favoured by the Government as a means of allowing companies to survive rather than go to the wall under a blizzard of debt claims.

However, its use in the Premiership was called into question when Leicester City was allowed to delay their debt payments, while clubs with equal mountains of debt, but who were determined to stay out of administration, were compelled to keep up their payments to creditors and the Inland Revenue.

Administration imposes a legal ban on creditors taking action against the company, giving it a breathing space to sort out its financial problems.

Creditors cannot ask the courts to put the company into receivership or into liquidation, both of which could sound the death knell commercially.

However, the powers available to an administrator could be double-edged.

He has to have a plan of rescue and survival, and not just that of preventing creditors taking action.

According to Dundee chartered accountants Henderson and Loggie, the administrator will come armed with a blank sheet of paper.

“Anything is possible, including the sale of any of the club’s assets. He has the power and the authority to make decisions and that could include the decision to unload the most valuable players,” they said.

The board, while it would not be dissolved, would be helpless to intervene.

The administrator would have the power and the power alone to make the decisions. He could consult with the directors and take advice from them, but he need not agree with them.

At the end of the administration period, the affairs of the club may then be handed back to the directors.

After training today, he held a meeting with all his staff and asked them to do their best to keep their minds on their own jobs.

“We are aware there is a huge financial debt, but the only thing I know is they are trying to find some way to resolve it,” said Jim.

“From my point of view, all I can do is get the players as much as possible to try and be professional and concentrate on the game.

“I’m not going to pretend they are not concerned because of course they are. But I think they owe it to the fans to go out and get on with the game.

“No one is unaware of what the possibilities are, but we can’t do anything about it.”

Attempting to focus on football, he revealed that Jonay Hernandez and Tom Hutchinson would both return to the squad for East End Park after injuries.

However, while midfielder Gavin Rae turned out for Scotland in Holland on Wednesday night, after hamstring trouble, he will not be risked on the new synthetic surface.

Defender Dave Mackay has pledged the players will leave the club’s financial plight to directors and bankers and concentrate on getting three points at Dunfermline.

“Of course we are aware there are problems, but right now, the players don’t know any more about the situation than what’s been in the papers,” he said.

“It’s worrying when you see these kind of stories, but we just have to get on with doing our jobs and that means playing football and trying to win.

“We’ve prepared properly and all we will be thinking about is trying to get the three points tomorrow.”

Despite the concerns they will obviously have about their futures, the playing staff this afternoon provided a spontaneous demonstration of where their hearts lie.

After the manager had addressed them and was preparing to speak to the gathered media the squad broke into a chorus of the fans’ song, “You are my Dundee”.

Wilson agrees something has to be done to remedy the situation, but struggles when it comes to providing an explanation for the poor home form.

“It’s something you can’t put your finger on. I don’t know if we feel under more pressure at home, but it’s hard to explain how we can go to places like Partick, Aberdeen, Livingston and Hibs and get good results, but not do it here,” he said.

“I think part of it has been bad luck and there have been a few home games where the breaks have gone against us, but we still know our record here should be better. And whatever the reason is, we have to start winning games at Tannadice so we can climb to where we want to be in the league.”

Against a Celtic outfit who have been sweeping aside all before them, Wilson admits that’s not going to be easy.

He’s making no rash predictions about the outcome of tomorrow’s lunchtime date, though he does stress United won’t be afraid of the Hoops’ recent good form.

“Almost every time you play them they are in the middle of a good run because they have so many good players they win most of their games. Recently, though, they do seem to be beating everyone about 5-0 and you have to respect that. We will, but we will go out and give our best.”