That won’t just be good news for the blue half of the city, because it’s understood the near-£500,000 Bennett will net from the deal will go straight into the coffers at United.

Less than a year after quitting Tannadice and then expressing an interest in buying Dundee lock, stock and barrel, only to pull out at the last minute, Bennett will be back as a Tangerines director by the beginning of next week.

United have lodged the necessary paperwork with the SFA and, although it’s understood the ruling body are uncomfortable with his existing links to another club, as no rules have been breached there should be no grounds for them to block the switch.

Those links to Dundee — he bought the ground to help finance the deal that saw them wipe out their £7 million debt with troubled bankers HBOS — look certain to be short term.

And, while Bennett is just days away from being in an opposition camp, Dens director Melville was keen to highlight how much he had helped Dundee.

“I think the first thing to say is everyone at Dundee is 100% relaxed about John being back on the Dundee United board when he still owns Dens Park,” said the multi-millionaire Aberdeen oilman.

“He wants to sell Dens and I want to buy it. I would say that, in three weeks, maximum, the deal will be done.

“I’ve reached the stage of getting a survey done this Friday and that tells you how far down the road we are.”

Melville was also quick to dismiss conspiracy theories that Bennett would now use his ownership of a rival club’s ground to put pressure on them.

“I think what everyone should remember is that John Bennett did Dundee a very big favour when he bought the stadium.

“As well as the money that he put in, right now we are operating rent free and it was a terrific deal for the club. He has always acted with the best intentions and what he did should not be forgotten.”

For their part, only once all the paperwork has been completed will Dundee United officially welcome Bennett back to Tannadice.

It’s understood, however, the 24-year-old has made it clear that, at the very least, he intends moving on when his contract expires this time next year.

Because of his age, that would see Partick unable to land a fee for a player they regard as being in the £175,000 bracket.

That could prompt them to take the money now, though the gap between their valuation and Dundee’s remains a considerable stumbling block.

It was the Tynecastle men, along with Aberdeen, who pipped United in the race for Europe last time out and the prospect of battle resuming from day one this time round has pleased everyone at Tannadice.

“It’s a great fixture to be kicking off with. There will be a big crowd and it should be a very good game,” said director Derek Robertson.

With meetings with bottom-six pair St Mirren and Falkirk to follow, Craig Levein’s men have been handed the chance to make a strong start to the campaign before having to travel to Celtic Park on September 12.

Leaping ahead, another fixture that catches the eye is a January 2 date with Aberdeen at Tannadice.

“That’s another one that should see a full house and it is great to see a return to a traditional New Year derby,” added Derek.

One minor disappointment is the failure to see Hibs at Tannadice in August in what would have been a repeat of the club’s first-ever game 100 years ago, but the seeding system used made that impossible and United accept that.

And at least another year of repeated clashes with neighbours Dundee has been avoided — only twice are the teams at home on the same weekend and each has already been pencilled in for a Sunday stint.

In the First Division, Dundee have been handed a useful-looking start with two of their likely promotion rivals forced to come to Dens in the first month or so.

After hosting Morton in the opener on August 8, relegated Inverness will come calling a fortnight later and September 12 will see Dunfermline visit.

Disappointingly, yet again, there will be no home festive season game and fans face a long trek to Inverness on December 26.

“It’s just a case of getting on with it, really, and we know that every game in this league can be a tough one,” said assistant manager Ray Farningham.

“A big plus is being at home on the first day and it is up to us to be making the running instead of playing catch-up like we were trying to do last season.”

St Johnstone’s return to the top-flight starts at home to Motherwell and one big date in their calendar will be the Tayside derby clash with United at McDiarmid Park on September 26.

Rangers visit the following month, but Perth fans won’t have to wait so long for a trip to Celtic Park — it takes place on August 22.

“McInnes is a big favourite with the fans at West Brom from his playing days there and is likely to be one of the main names in the frame.”

Former Baggies man Darren Moore, who played alongside Derek at West Brom, said, “Derek would be a top-class appointment. He brings a freshness that players can relate to which may work in his favour.”