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General Sport - 22 June 2009
Football: Blether with Brown > Touchline
 
Casement signs on
 

CHRIS CASEMENT at Dens today.

 
Dundee’s squad reconstruction continued today as the arrival of Northern Ireland international Chris Casement made it signing No. 5 this summer (writes Tom Duthie).
The 21-year-old flew up from England first thing and went through a medical at Dens Park before putting pen to paper on a three-year contract.

Until Friday, interest in Casement had been kept from the public view, but assistant boss Ray Farningham revealed he has been on the radar for some time.

“He is one we knew about through contacts down south and he is the kind of player we are looking for. We’ve been working on this for a while, so it’s good to get it done,” said “Jinky”.

“He can play at full-back and give us cover in the centre of defence. He is a player who has played at a high level and is now a full international, so we are very pleased to be getting him.”

It’s at right-back that Dundee see Casement slotting in and that will release skipper Eric Paton for midfield and a berth boss Jocky Scott thinks he can excel in.

That does not mean interest in others for that area of the park has ended, and Brian Kerr remains on course to be signed up by the end of the week.

The bid to bring in sought-after Livingston striker Leigh Griffiths, meanwhile, remains up in the air.

Negotiations with controversial Livi chairman Angelo Massone continued over the weekend, but, despite the prospect of bringing in £100,000 for his cash-strapped club, the Italian has still to give a definite yes to the Dundee offer.

Massone has other matters to deal with and, as well as the £32,000 Livingston owe an electricity company, he is due West Lothian Council £280,000 in rent by the end of the month.

Today, a separate £10,000 due in rent was handed over to the council and that has staved off the immediate threat of administration.

Massone is adamant the club will survive, but, if it does go into administration, Dundee now fear that could lead to Griffiths ending up at an SPL club in a cut-price deal.

St Johnstone have made an enquiry and it is understood several others are monitoring the situation, though the apparently imminent collapse of broadcasters Setanta will slash the transfer budgets of most SPL clubs.

Setanta uncertainty worries United boss
Dundee United boss Craig Levein today admitted he was worried about the ramification of the likely collapse of television company Setanta, but, most of all, just wants the matter resolved (writes Tom Duthie).
After losing their English Premiership package late on Friday, the Dublin-based broadcasters are back on the brink of administration and that would spell big losses for the SPL.

While other TV companies are showing an interest in screening Scotland’s top flight should it become available again, it’s accepted any new deal would be for considerably less than Setanta were supposed to pay.

That’s bad news for the top flight, but, with a new season to prepare for, Craig has admitted he simply wants to know where everyone stands.

“It’s a worrying situation and now I just want to know what the outcome is going to be so we can get on with our work,” he said. “Right now, you just have to look at the lack of movement in the transfer market to see that is what we are all waiting for.”

Saints confirm Griffiths move
St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes said today the club has made a definite enquiry for Dundee target Leigh Griffiths (writes James Masson).
Derek added, however, the approach for the Livingston striker was made a few weeks ago and, as far as he is aware, Saints have heard nothing back.

Speculation continues to link Derek with the vacant managerial post at West Brom, but the Saints gaffer said he’s heard nothing.

News from down south today suggested the Midlands club have targeted someone not presently in a job to replace Tony Mowbray.

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