That emerged today as United revealed annual accounts for the period ending June 2004, a set of figures they believe clearly show financial recovery is well under way at Tannadice.

The latest accounts to be made public reveal an operating loss that has been reduced by £1.2m to just under £1.5m and a net loss cut by £1m to £1.9m.

Other healthy figures presented at a Press conference at Tannadice included a £800,000 increase in turnover and a reduction in the players’ wages to turnover from 78% to 66%.

Eddie, though, conceded that continued recovery would be determined not by events in the boardroom but on the park.

“When we announced our results for June 2003, I advised that a three-year financial recovery plan was in place and that we projected that losses would be reduced by almost £1 million in the first year of this,” he said.

“I am pleased to report that, despite widely acknowledged ongoing financial pressures affecting Scottish football, we have met our first-year targets.

“While I am pleased to report such progress, there is clearly much more to be done if we are to return the club to profitability.

“Everything, though, depends on what happens on the park.”

If United don’t get the results they need, the board believe loss of income during a season in the First Division would run to seven figures and undo much of the good work they’ve put in behind the scenes over the last two-and-a-bit years.

United would survive, but it would represent a big hit for Thompson personally and is something he is desperate to see his club avoid.

The emphasis today, though, was on the positive, and the chairman was also keen to stress a continued good relationship with bankers HBOS.

United have a long-term loan of £6m with them and also an overdraft facility of £1m, so keeping the bank “sweet” is imperative.

“We had a meeting with them about 10 days ago and I am pleased to say they are satisfied with where we are going,” added the Tangerines supremo.

United are the only club in the country who also send shareholders an annual review of activities, as well as accounts, and perhaps the most interesting figure contained in that document is the £100,000-plus the club feels the ill-fated ground-sharing proposal by the administrators at Dundee FC cost them.

That loss was calculated by taking into account the likes of the substantial reduction in gate money a boycott by Dundee fans of a Tannadice derby at the height of the furore brought about.

“David’s been able to work very hard in the gym with the physio and he is naturally fit anyway, so his general fitness has remained very good even though he’s been injured,” said interim boss Gordon Chisholm.

“He can’t straighten his arm yet, even when he does we will need to work on his match fitness. But, once he gets the go ahead, he should not be too far away.”

This afternoon, suspended pair Derek McInnes and Grant Brebner were getting a runout with the reserves in a league meeting with Inverness Caley Thistle at Forfar’s Station Park.

Also seeing action were first-team fringe men Collin Samuel, Jason Scotland and goalkeeper Nick Colgan. Striker James Grady has not trained this week due to a bout of sickness.

Negotiations with Stuart Duff, who is out of contract in the summer, have been progressing well and the Tangerines believe they will have him on a new deal by the end of the week.

“We’ve really only Iain Anderson and Stephen McNally not doing at least some of the work. Stevie Lovell is back working normally and, seeing as he did most of the training last week as well, he’ll be OK for Saturday,” said Jim.

“Even Kelvin Jack is at the stage where he is doing some goalkeeping exercises with Paul Mathers. He’s not in full training with the rest of the boys, but at least he is making some progress now,” said Jim.

Turning away from the first team, the boss had words of consolation and praise for his Under-19 side, which went down 3-1 to Celtic in the Youth Cup quarter-finals yesterday.

“I have to say they played well. Celtic are a good side and I would not pretend that they didn’t deserve to go through, but we competed from the first minute to the last and that was what was most important to me,” he added.

“Heads did not go down and, although a couple of basic errors cost us dear — which is what you get at this level — there was not a great deal between the sides. That is encouraging because Celtic are physically strong and a good footballing side.”

Meanwhile, Dundee have finalised details of their offer of free admission to over-60s and cut-price entry (£2) for youngsters for the game against Kilmarnock at Dens on Saturday.

The scheme will operate in the away fans’ area as well as the Bob Shankly and Bobby Cox Stands.

The Bob Shankly will be open for home fans, while Killie fans will occupy sections A, B and C of the main stand. Season ticket holders, from any part of the ground, can gain access to the Bob Shankly Stand with their season ticket, and take advantage of the £2 child places at the turnstile.

As usual, the Bobby Cox Stand and family areas will be entry by ticket only. Free senior and £2 children’s tickets can be obtained from the ticket office.

The Bobby Cox and main stand family section prices are — adults £18, children £2, seniors free. The centre stand is pay at the gate, adults are £20, concessions £12. The south enclosure is also pay at the gate, adults £18, concessions £10. Away fans are adult £20, children £2, over age 60 free.

It is also a busy weekend for fans’ trust Dee 4 Life, whose use of the Andy Penman Lounge at Dens pre and post match resumes on Saturday. Later on, there will be “Doo at the Vu 2”, a night of music at the Deja Vu nightclub in Dundee.

Some tickets for the event, which proved highly successful when it was first staged last year, are still on sale at Dundee Direct at Dens Park.

Meanwhile, long-term injury victim Kevin Fotheringham is still struggling with injury and no date has been set for a comeback.