One report stating he was set to quit today has been dismissed by the man who has been in charge of team matters for the past three seasons, but his admission he would not stay “at any cost” has led to speculation his second spell as manager is about to end.

While he hopes that will not be the case, he accepts any uncertainty doesn’t help Dundee in their battle to survive relegation to the First Division.

“I’m not on the verge of quitting. I have gone on record as stating I would like to be the manager next season and have a go at getting us out of the First Division in one season — that position hasn’t changed,” he said.

“However, it’s not all down to me, which I accept, and from my point of view, I would only want to continue if I felt there would be a realistic chance of getting promotion. Already the cuts that have been made will make that more difficult, but that is a consequence of relegation.”

Jim was having further meetings with owner Peter Marr today and, along with his board, would be happy if agreement for the manager to remain could be reached. Both sides agree, however, that whatever the way forward, it has to be decided sooner rather than later.

“On a personal level and for the good of the club, I think there should be no uncertainty and it would be better for my future to be settled in the next day or so,” added Jim.

“Sometimes you get decisions you do not like, but, in my experience, it is always better for them to be taken as soon as is possible so that everyone can more forward. I want it to be me who is doing that and preparing for next season, but if that is not to be, it is better things are settled so Dundee can be doing that.”

Meanwhile, the process of implementing the cutbacks needed in other areas to give the club a chance of surviving the drop was continuing.

For the second day running, Peter Marr was meeting members of staff to inform them they would have to take sizeable wage cuts and, in some cases, that their jobs will be lost.

Only once that process has been completed, will the Dark Blues be in a position to provide figures confirming exactly how many jobs have been lost.

Already though, there have been staff cuts in both the club’s main office and commercial department, while on the playing side every out-of-contract player has been told they won’t be offered new deals for next season.

Players under contract have also been informed of the need for them to accept a salary reduction, though details of that have still to be thrashed out on an individual basis.

All players have the option to refuse to take cuts and, if Dundee were then insistent they had to, those involved would be entitled to free transfers.

The situation concerning members of the backroom staff has also to be settled, but Jim Duffy accepted that keeping general manager Gordon Wallace, coaches Ray Farningham and Stevie Campbell, as well as physio-therapists Jim Law and Robbie Raeside would be out of his hands.

“Like everything else, relegation means the decision on that is down to one thing — finance.”

Fans’ group Dee 4 Life have an assurance that the board will meet with them within the next couple of weeks.

The trust’s intention is to meet their membership at Dundee Social Club on Monday (7 pm), where fans can pass on their points of view to their representatives.

That he would be getting the nod has not been in doubt since he guided United to SPL safety with victory at Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday, his fifth win in 10 games as interim boss.

That was more wins than previous boss Ian McCall had managed between the start of the season and his departure in March and, given the improvement in level of performance as well as results, it was impossible to ignore the former No. 2’s claim for the job.

As well as the board, Gordon has had the backing of the players and, at Inverness, fans showed their support for him by chanting his name after the final whistle.

A player with Sunderland, Hibs and Dundee, where he was skipper in the late 80s, he has been a successful coach and assistant manager at a list of Scottish clubs over the past decade.

Since stepping into the managerial hot seat two months ago, he has shown that, having served that lengthy apprenticeship, he is ready to be his own boss and has earned his chance via results.

His main priority this week, though, remains preparing for the final and what looks certain to be O’Neill’s last game.

Gordon will ignore speculation about that as he concentrates on United’s bid to follow up their 1994 success against the other half of the Old Firm.

Minus torn groin muscle victim Paul Ritchie, the players trained on the pitch at Tannadice today. Ritchie is not expected to make it by his manager, but, with the player determined to recover in record time and take his place at Hampden, he will be given another couple of days to prove the medical experts wrong.

“Paul’s such a determined boy and this is such a big occasion that I am not going to rule him out if he says he has a chance,” said the new manager.

“However, the final decision will be mine and, for a game of this importance, he will have to train on Thursday or Friday to show me he can be in the squad.”