It’s been stalled, though, because of the rule that states no player can turn-out at competitive level for more than two clubs in any given season.

That hasn’t stop the Tangerines pressing ahead with Forde’s move and, today, they were seeking special dispensation to allow him to move north.

“The situation is that, with Grezgorz Szamotulski leaving, I have only Lukasz Zaluska, with Euan McLean as back-up, but I want to put Euan out on loan,” explained boss Craig Levein.

“Euan’s contract is up in the summer and we need to see him in action regularly, so we can decide if he should get a new deal.

“If he stays here that isn’t going to happen because he’ll be on the bench and we want to give him every chance to secure his future.

“That’s why I contacted Cardiff about Forde and they are willing to let him come. The problem is he’s played one Welsh Cup tie for them, as well as going on loan to Luton, so he’s hit by this three-club rule.

“The Welsh FA and the English FA both agree it should not apply to him because he’s an emergency loan, but the SFA don’t agree, so, right now, the deal can’t go through. We feel he should be allowed to play for us, so we are contacting FIFA with an appeal and, hopefully, they will look favourably on the situation.”

Right now, there seems no chance of Forde being cleared in time to make the squad for tomorrow’s Scottish Cup trip to St Mirren, but United are hopeful of getting their man soon.

Like every other tie, if the weather forecast is accurate, the Love Street visit will be in doubt. Today, though, the surface was playable and there were no plans for an inspection.

If the game does go ahead, loan signing from Celtic Jim O’Brien will watch from the stand because he is cup-tied.

The big decision facing the manager is who should replace Barry Robson in the line-up following his £1.25 million move to Celtic, and who should take over from him as skipper — Lee Wilkie and Darren Dods are the captaincy candidates.

Late yesterday, United did make an inquiry about Airdrie United’s Alan Russell, who is also wanted by Kilmarnock. The Tannadice interest in Russell is unlikely to be pursued.

Although tomorrow’s game is listed as all-ticket, tickets will be readily available at kiosks adjacent to the Love Street turnstiles.

With rain, snow and sleet falling almost continuously since, groundstaff were fighting a losing battle to try to get it ready for tomorrow’s tie.

An inspection was arranged for noon and it took the referee just a few minutes to give the waterlogged surface the thumbs down. Now Tuesday has been pencilled in for another go at getting the game played.

News of the postponement reached Dens Park just minutes after boss Alex Rae and his players had completed their final training session of the week — Dundee were preparing to play until told otherwise.

“It did not look good with their game going off on Wednesday and I know there has been no let up in the weather through there, but, until we were told it was off, we had to be ready to play,” he said.

“For myself, the players and, I’m sure, the fans, it would have been far better if it was on tomorrow, but now we’ll start getting ready for Tuesday.

Meanwhile, having secured Hibs striker Mickael Antoine-Curier on loan until the end of the season to add to his earlier signing of full-back David Cowan, Alex was happy with his transfer deadline-day business.

“As well as adding numbers to a small squad, these two bring in a bit of pedigree in terms of top-division experience and I was pleased to get them,” he added.

“Cowan can play in the cup when the game goes ahead, but Antoine-Curier was on the bench for Hibs in the last round, so he won’t be involved.”

Although he did not move on yesterday, full-back Paul Dixon remains a Kilmarnock target when he is out of contract in the summer.

And, while reports that Gavin Swankie almost switched to St Johnstone late last night were news to everyone at Dens, that move could also happen in the close season.

A box-to-box player, the forceful midfielder will be a key player in tomorrow’s encounter at Ross County.

And he may well have teenager Kevin Moon alongside him in the middle of the park.

“Mooner is doing well and is getting better and better,” said Saints’ boss Derek McInnes.

Saints reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals last season, going out to Celtic in the last four at Hampden after putting up a great performance.

Martin Hardie, the Perth club’s scorer that day, won’t play tomorrow as he’s injured — but one player back in the squad after a long spell on the sidelines through injury is Kevin James.

Having reached the semis last season, Derek McInnes is determined Saints will go on another cup run.

“If we beat Ross County we’re in the last eight and that is a great incentive,” he declared. “We had a great run last season and want to do even better this time round.

“Ross County are having a good season though and are playing with confidence. They are a fine side and we’ll need to play well to beat them.”

Saints already have one cup victory over Ross County at Victoria Park this season, when goals from Kenny Deuchar and Andy Jackson helped them knock the Highlanders out of the Challenge Cup.

Ross County won the Challenge Cup last season and Saints are now the proud holders of it.

Striker Peter MacDonald has been offered a new two-year deal and has indicated he wishes to stay with Saints.

Peter is one of Saints’ longest- serving players, having been signed from Rangers by then Saints manager Sandy Clark.

He’s also in tomorrow’s squad, as is David Weatherston, the youngster snapped up from Queen’s Park in the close season.

Due to the A9 being closed because of the weather, Saints travelled north by train today.