So far, that has not happened and the Tangerines were saying, therefore, little on the matter today, but, behind the scenes, there is a quiet confidence in their ability to rebuff any approach.

“Craig Levein is very happy at Dundee United and we are currently planning with him for next season and the future,” was Stephen Thompson’s reaction.

Craig himself, meanwhile, was sticking to his position of refusing to discuss the matter, though he did make a point of confirming the validity of his chief executive’s statement.

And, while United do believe that, at some point in the next few years, their gaffer will be lured away by a bigger offer — probably from down south — they are equally convinced that, right now, there is no better job for him in Scotland than the one he has.

As well as turning round the fortunes of the first team since his arrival at the end of October 2006 and leading them to a top-six finish this season, he has also been involved in revamping the club at all levels.

Under the microscope just now is the youth set-up and how the glory days of the late 1970s and 1980s, when United produced the best young talent in the land, can be restored.

Going hand-in-hand with that is work on the top team for next term, and the next week or so should see more new arrivals.

All that spells bad news for troubled Hearts, who will have to take their search for a permanent first-team coach elsewhere.

With Motherwell’s Mark McGhee knocking them back and their prodigal son happy where he is in Dundee, indications are that could take at least another month or so to complete.

Scheduled to start on June 25, the emphasis on Malta would be on training, with possibly just one low-key game towards the end of the trip.

The manager, though, sees it as the perfect way to kick-off the build-up to the season.

“Dave and I will check first to see they have everything we need and, if they do, it will be an ideal way to get pre-season training started,” he said.

“The players would only be back at Dens for a day before we left and, although the fitness work we’ll do could easily be done here, having them all together in the sun for 10 days will allow us to do a lot of other stuff.

“I’ve still to work out a schedule, but, if we go, there will be evening sessions when we can work on things like shape and tactics, and being able to do that so early will be a big bonus.

“It’s that kind of stuff that takes longer to do in this country. Even in summer, we can’t guarantee the kind of weather you need and, when boys are going home every night, you have to accept you can’t keep them late every day.

“If we’re in Malta, the entire focus will be on football and that will give us a great opportunity to put in some quality work.

“It will certainly be no holiday, because last season we won a lot of games late on because we got the fitness right during the pre-season and we’ll be looking for the same again.”

Meanwhile, having added Mark Gilhaney and now Darren Young to his squad, Alex’s signings are set to continue with the capture of goalkeeper Rab Douglas and possibly Livingston’s Robert Snodgrass.

It’s understood the Douglas deal is virtually done, though Snodgrass is holding talks with several other clubs as well.