The budget for next year has already been increased by 25% to put Dundee on course to be the division’s biggest spenders and the board hope to be able to have added a further £560,000 by the time the first ball is kicked in anger.

Dundee have not given exact details of sales for this season, but, have admitted the figure is now 2000 down on levels when the club was last in the SPL.

Now, if half those fans return over the summer, the £280,000 they spend will be matched and go on the squad.

He started the year an Aberdeen fan, but Melville is now Dark Blue through and through and, as far as he is concerned, only No. 1 will do for his new team.

While he is keen to stress financial prudence will be a key feature of his involvement, he also wants it known Dundee is no longer a club struggling to survive, but one setting it’s sights on re-establishing itself in the SPL.

The first task, though, is to escape the First Division and the man, who only yesterday had his wealth estimated at some £124 million, is determined that will happen in a year’s time.

“I have been here six weeks now and I am massively impressed with what the guys on the board have done in terms of reducing the debt,” he said.

“I do, however, think we are at a crossroads now and we have to get promoted next year.

“The board have come up with a plan that for every full price season ticket over the figure we sold last year, we, as a board, are going to match pound for pound to invest in the playing staff.

“In other words, if we sell a thousand more than we did last year, that’s £280,000 from the fans, and we will put in another £280,000 to match that and get the best players we can.”

Work is already under way to start the spending and there is confidence the next few weeks will see the signings start.

“Currently, Jocky Scott is doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes to try to improve the playing staff and replace the guys who are moving on with much better quality players, because, as Saturday showed, it is obvious we need to.

“From our point of view, it is important to try to get the fans onside and get them to understand that, while we are investing money, they have a vital part to play.

“We are having a genuine push to get back to the SPL and the term we will use time and again is that second is last. There is no second prize in the First Division and we have to be first.

“Everybody keeps telling me we are an SPL club, and I totally accept we are an SPL club playing in the First Division, but we are in real danger of being a club where we are and that’s the First Division.

“Next season, we have to get better players in and Jocky has got the money to do that and the full support of the board.

“We have to get promoted and the guys in the street have to know that and support us accordingly. I’ll say it again and keep saying it — the mantra for next season is second is nowhere.

“However, we can’t get promoted just off the back of the board — this is the fans’ club and their club needs them.”

“I believe in Jocky 100% and he has got some pretty impressive results for us this season. I am in no doubt due to the current climate there will be some quality players becoming available — and he will get the ones he needs.

“I speak to him almost every day — I’m not sure how much of a good thing he thinks that is — and I, personally, am a great believer that when you want a job done you can’t beat experience. He has that experience and the coaching ability — he is the man.”

Melville joined up at Dens after responding to an advert chairman Bob Brannan placed in a Sunday newspaper and views the opportunity as the ideal time and place for him to become involved in football.

He will be very much hands on, but is happy not to live right on his club’s doorstep.

“I was an Aberdeen fan before I came here, but I can honestly say Dundee were always a club I had a soft spot for. When I looked at what the board had done — led by Bob Brannan, but also with a lot of work done by George Knight and Ian Bodie — I knew this was a club I wanted to be involved with.

“I have to say that where the club is situated for me is perfect. I believe Stewart Milne has done an amazing job for Aberdeen, but living up there I see the hassle he and his family have had and how unfair it was.

“I can be down here in 55 minutes, so it is an easy commute, but it is also far enough away for me to head back home knowing I am not going to be bothered when I go out and, more importantly, my kids are not going to be targeted — because I know that was an issue for Stewart.”

Melville, whose estimate wealth put him third behind the Old Firm on the Scottish football rich list, has promised he is at Dens for the long term and, while he baulks at making rash promises, he knows what the fans want and shares their desire.

“The first thing we have to focus on is getting back to the Premier League and establishing ourselves as a fixture there and not a yo-yo club.

“What we all want, though, is to be Dundee’s top team and that means finishing above Dundee United. As a fan now, I know how much that means.”

What it will not mean is a programme of reckless spending and if — he says when — an SPL place is restored, a prudent approach will be maintained.

“The board have done an enormous amount of good work and it will not be undone. We have a financial plan and it can get us to where we want to be, but it will be adhered to.

“What I will say is that we are not making hollow promises. The investment has already started and it will continue because we want success and that means Dundee back in the Premier League and doing well.”

The reasons for him missing the last two games of the campaign were then doubled by cracking a bone in his foot during the first half of the 1-0 defeat.

Amazingly, though, despite being in agony, the full-back still completed 90 minutes.

“Eric showed why he is the kind of player we need more of, his attitude is fantastic,” said boss Jocky Scott.

“He was in a lot of pain, but got to half-time and asked for an injection because he was determined to see out the 90 minutes.

“The injury would have ruled him out of the last two games, but we’d already decided he would go in to hospital this week to have his shoulder done, because, since I got here, his collar bone has been popping out.

“He’ll need eight weeks to recover from that, so we want it done now to make sure he is fit for pre-season training.”

If Jocky was pleased with his skipper, he was less than impressed with Mikael Antoine-Curier’s red card for an elbow on Martin Hardie, though the exact nature of the striker’s punishment will remain in-house.

“Suffice to say we were finding it hard enough with 11 men and him getting sent off was not a help,” the manager said.

Going by his progress this year, though, his manager believes that will change over the next few months.

“I think ‘Goodie’s’ problem has been he got a lot of praise before he’d achieved all that much and, at the level he was playing, things came very easy to him,” said Craig.

“He got a bit carried away by the hype and, for a while, was not working hard enough, but this season I see a player who is very focused and working extremely hard — put that together with his talent and I believe that means we are going to have a very good player.

“I’ve told him to keep his head down and work hard and he’ll get chances before the end of the season, but I think it is going to be next year that we seen him emerge in the first team.

“And I know it’s a big statement because Fran Sandaza is such a talent, but I do believe he has the quality to challenge him for a starting place.”

In the short term, the manager’s focus is Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday and defenders Danny Grainger and Darren Dods remain on course to be fit to take over from suspended pair Paul Dixon and Lee Wilkie.

Briefs for the all-ticket games against Hibs and Celtic (away), together with the home fixture against Rangers, are on sale from Tannadice. Rangers end tickets for Tannadice are also available from the club shop.