Late last month, boss Jim Duffy did exactly that and, true to his word, Jock, who keeps in touch with his team’s progress via the internet, forked out for two Bobby Cox Stand briefs.

Understandably reluctant to make a 6000-mile round trip every other weekend to use his tickets, Jock passed them on to supporters’ trust Dee 4 Life, who, in turn, donated them to the nearest school to their team’s home.

“It was very good of Jock to do this. People make these kind of promises, but it would have been very easy for him to have gone into hiding once Fabian was re-signed, but he hasn’t and all credit to him,” said Jim McFarlane of Dee 4 Life.

“We felt the best thing to do with them was to hand them over to a local school and what better one than Dens Road, which is right on the club’s doorstep.”

Delighted to receive the tickets, acting headmaster at Dens Road, Gerry Munro, decided they should be a reward for pupils Jordan McBride and Nathan Henderson, who have been working hard to promote a healthy lifestyle within the school and beyond.

“We have a Healthy Living Tuck Shop at Dens Road and these lads have been doing a lot to promote that. We spoke to Dee 4 Life and they agreed that it was a good idea use the tickets for something like this,” he said.

If he doesn’t, coaches John McGlynn and ex-Dark Blue Steve Frail will be in charge, but, whoever picks the line-up, Jim is expecting a focused and determined Hearts side.

“For the last year or so, there has usually been a side issue hanging over Hearts, but that has not effected their performances at all,” said Jim.

“For a time, there was talk of Craig taking over at Blackburn Rovers and, throughout, there has been the quitting Tynecastle thing, but they have still qualified for Europe and kept winning games.

“Whatever the situation with Craig, we can expect this to be a very hard game against one of the strongest sides in the country. Anyway, we’ve got more than enough to worry about with our own fluctuating form, without concerning ourselves with what’s happening at another club.”

That roller-coaster form has seen Dundee beat in-form Kilmarnock a fortnight ago, play well but lose to struggling Dunfermline last week and then plunge the depths as they lost to basement club Inverness Caley Thistle on Wednesday.

In the wake of that defeat, Jim will make changes and believes anyone who is left out will have no complaints.

“I pretty much left things after the Dunfermline game because the performance was not too bad. But what I saw on Wednesday was unacceptable. I’m looking at all areas and thinking about changes and I don’t think anyone who is left out will be knocking on my door to complain, because they have no grounds to.

“In fact, the ones who keep their places can consider themselves fortunate and what I am wanting to see from them is the kind of performance that tells me they still want to be involved when the derby comes round next week.”

Those in line for a starting place include Fabian Caballero, who was one of the few to perform well when he came on against ICT.

Iain Anderson remains a doubt after being left out in midweek because of a niggling thigh problem, while defender Brent Sancho is still feeling the effects of a head knock picked up at Pittodrie.

“It’s always hard to tell with a head knock. Brent also jarred his neck. He could still make it, though,” said Jim, who added that Neil Barrett is rated 50/50 due to a calf injury.

Now Ian wants to see his men transfer that restored confidence into victories — the first quarter of the league campaign yielded just one and he is demanding more.

“The games this week have been encouraging and given us a platform we can build on. We are one point worse off than we were this time last season and that is disappointing, but it is a lot tighter league this time and our goals for the season have not changed,” he said.

“We want to get into the top six and we have the quality to do that. What we have to do is start winning regularly because we have only won once so far and that is nothing like enough.

“In the second half against Hearts on Wednesday, we were back to something like the football we were producing over the last five months of last season and that is what I am looking for against Dunfermline.”

It was that kind of football that saw United embark on an unbeaten home run stretching for over five months from around this time a year ago and the same again would suit the team boss. Even taking things a game at a time, he is demanding a win tomorrow.

“Dunfermline look like they’ve turned the corner themselves over the last week, with a good win at Dundee and a good performance even though they lost to Rangers on Wednesday.

“This is at Tannadice, however, and is the kind of game we have to be looking to win. After the draws on Sunday and Wednesday, a win would be the perfect end to the week.”

Although he has been happy with the improvement in form, Ian is also aware it has been a physically-taxing week for his players and that means he is likely to freshen his line-up.

“Jason Scotland is now probably back to the level of sharpness we want, so he is in contention, and Karim Kerkar has done enough when he’s come on in the last two games to show that he is ready for a starting place.”

The men making way if those two do get the nod are likely to be veteran Billy Dodds and striker Collin Samuel.

Dunfermline’s Gary Dempsey and Noel Hunt are still out injured and boss Davie Hay will wait before deciding on tomorrow’s line-up.

“We have a few suffering from bumps and bruises after the Rangers game, but we’ll give them every opportunity of proving their fitness,” said Davie.

Ex-United man Andy Tod and Billy Mehmet, who came on as substitutes against Rangers in the second half, may get starting berths tomorrow.

As part of the Football Against Racism in Europe fortnight of action, ArabTRUST, on behalf of the United supporters, successfully applied for grant funding in respect of anti-racism initiatives. As a result, a large advertising hoarding will be unveiled at half-time tomorrow.

United’s U/19 game against Hearts at North End Park, was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

“This will be a really tough match and, if we’re not up for it, we’ll come away with nothing.”

Like a lot of other First Division sides, Saints are getting better results away from home and they hope this trend will continue.

Ian Maxwell has trained OK after missing last Saturday’s home draw against Airdrie United with a neck complaint and John has intimated there will be changes, although not wholesale ones.

Meanwhile, Raith are likely to be without striker Herve Ebanda.

The Frenchman has missed training with a knock this week.

Wes Daly, on loan from QPR, is another doubt with a groin strain.

The Fifers are still looking for their first victory this season.

Manager Dalziel wants his side to build on the point taken at home against Hamilton last weekend.

He said, “We have to take a bit of confidence from that draw and look to take the three points this time.”

Back-up netminder Colin Downie played the whole game for the Dundee side, while young British defenceman, Chad Reekie from Kirkcaldy, was moved into an offensive position and had a very solid game.

Coach Roger Hunt said, “I thought we were very unlucky last night and we had a lot of shots and a lot of pressure. I thought Chad played very well up front, so I think both he and the whole team can take a lot from the game.

“We have a big weekend coming up. We’re in Belfast tomorrow and that’ll be a tough game, but I’m confident that when the Flyers come here on Sunday, we can get a good result.

“New netminder Evan Lindsay will be playing this weekend, so it’ll be good to see what he can do. He’s met the guys and they seemed to get on great.

“We’re all looking forward to an exciting weekend of hockey, and expectations are high in the camp.”

Tomorrow, the Stars travel to Belfast to take on Giants, one of the strongest teams in the Elite League,

Giants are coached by ex-Stars player/coach Tony Hand. Last time the two teams met, Belfast came out on top 4-2.

On Sunday, the Taysiders take on the Fife Flyers at Dundee Ice Arena (face-off 6.30 pm).

In their last meeting, Stars lost 4-2 and will be hoping to reverse that result in front of their own fans.