However, inquiries have opened up a real can of worms — and the outcome could be that some cup winners this season may be forced to hand back their trophies, in addition to many league points being taken away, ultimately affecting championship and relegation issues.

Not only that, there is now a serious doubt about the league functioning next season.

MAFA officials were staying tight-lipped this morning — all enquiries were redirected to the Glasgow-based Scottish Amateur Football Association (SAFA), who, it is believed, had two representatives attending last night’s meeting, chairing proceedings in a neutral capacity.

The situation revolves around the constitution of the SAFA and MAFA.

Around five years ago, the SAFA relaxed their reinstatement procedure, but MAFA did not.

A player could quite legitimately play in the Scottish Amateur Cup and North of Tay Cup (both under the auspices of SAFA), but couldn’t play in local cup or league games.

One MAFA insider, present at last night’s Special General Meeting in the University Tower Block, Dundee, said, “What started out as a seemingly run-of-the-mill meeting ended in absolute chaos.

“The clubs were offered to vote to declare an amnesty, but, instead, offered to vote for the MAFA committee to go through every single team-line for this season and to check every single player’s status, in addition to any trialists.

“This is an unbelievable task for anyone to be asked to carry out.

“I certainly wouldn’t want to be the one to have to do that.

“I think there could even be some resignations from elected officials over this.”

MAFA currently have around 40 teams in membership, with, roughly, half of these teams also putting out second-string sides to play in the Alliance Leagues. The “Alliance” teams are, in effect, team’s reserve sides.

A recent random check of 36 players revealed 19 were of professional status.

The insider continued, “Some clubs now see this as a chance to come from practically nowhere and claim a league title, while others just want to see this mess cleared up.

“Clubs involved in these protests have stated that they acted in good faith when inquiring about the status of players, who have previously played in their career in the senior grades or professionally as a junior.

“When contacting Scottish officials in Glasgow, they would ask if a certain player was with a professional club. If the answer came back as ‘no’, then it seemed it was OK to sign him on an amateur form.

“Now it turns out that the question they should have asked is, ‘What is the status of this player?’, and they would have been told if the player was professional or not.

“Why the Scottish officials couldn’t have qualified the initial question with, ‘No, he’s not with a professional club, but he still holds professional status’, is beyond me.”

Speaking from Hampden Park this morning, SAFA secretary Hugh Knapp confirmed most of the above, but added, “Checking all these registrations — around 1500 players in all — may prove to be an impossible task.

“It really would have been better if clubs had voted for an amnesty this year. At the end of the day, though, these events should stand the MAFA in good stead for the future.

“I’ve also recently checked the constitutions of one or two other associations and they need also to be updated.”

All promotion and relegation issues have now been put on hold as MAFA officials start the task of sifting through thousands of team-lines in an effort to sort things out.

The insider concluded, “I doubt if this can be done in time for the start of next season. It is a horrendous task for anyone to be confronted with.

“And, really, it’s all because some teams smell blood and want to be given a championship, despite being many points behind.”

On the platform tomorrow will be club chairman Bob Brannan, trust chairman George Knight and, significantly, Mileson.

And the man whose team knocked Dundee out of this season’s Scottish Cup has already given his vocal support and is expected to come bearing gifts.

He likes to eat fish and chips on the way to games, sit with the rank and file punters and, famously, turned up for the Scottish Cup Final last month wearing a £3 pair of jeans he bought from ASDA.

The Englishman is, however, a multi-millionaire and, as well as funding Gretna’s remarkable rise, has been known to splash his cash for the good of the game.

He has previously donated money to Dee 4 Life’s city rivals ArabTRUST and it comes as no great surprise he is considering kick-starting this campaign with a cash boost.

Even so, the real stars, if the campaign to raise the minimum target of £150,000 by the end of July is to succeed, will be the fans themselves.

Although they have already stumped up the best part of £200,000 through Dee 4 Life and other groups since the club almost went bust in November 2003, the trust are asking them for almost as much again.

If they get it, they will take up a 26% shareholding and have an agreement with owner Peter Marr that he would then reduce his stake to one per cent less if all the shares he’s made available are taken up.

The significance of the 26% figure is that it prevents any one person or group having total control of Dundee, even if they were to get their hands on all the remaining stock.

In advance of the rally, the Dundee board were meeting at Dens today when other matters, including a season ticket package for next term, were also on the agenda.

Tomorrow’s event starts at 12.30 pm and, with a hot sunny day forecast, plans are for it to be held in the enclosure in front of the main stand. Those attending should head for the main entrance.

DUNDEE UNITED have reminded existing season ticket holders that same-seat renewals can be made using the internet.

The ticket office at Tannadice has grown increasingly busy with each passing day this week, as Sunday’s “Early Bird” offer deadline looms and the late rush is expected to continue during the weekend. To meet demand, the club shop will be open between 9 am-5 pm tomorrow and from noon-5 pm on Sunday.