And, in a bid to get his fitness up to scratch, had made a request to the Dark Blues to join in some of their pre-season work.

But that will be as far as it goes, as Jocky explained, “Phil stays locally and asked to get access to training, and we were happy to help him out, but we aren’t looking to take it further.”

Meanwhile, all being well, the entire first-team squad will head for Austria next Thursday.

The Dens men will continue their pre-season work during the week-long stay and are due to meet German Bundesliga 2 outfit Augsburg on July 21.

However, given the numbers in the travelling party, Jocky is keen to add another fixture to the schedule.

He said, “We are taking all 23 first-team men with us, because it’s very important they all do the same work as we will need them all next season.

“We’ve got one game fixed up, but, ideally, I’d like another and that’s something we’ve been working on.”

New signing Leigh Griffiths, meanwhile, has been sent to the swimming pool for a few days.

The 18-year-old has been complaining of an abdominal problem and, although a scan revealed nothing sinister, his workout over the next 48 hours or so will be confined to water.

Young keeper John Gibson is set to go on loan to Third Division Elgin City next season.

Ironically, the new lights are also an indirect requirement of the television companies, although, following the demise of Setanta, a deal to broadcast SPL football still hangs in the balance.

Scotland’s Premier clubs met at Hampden Park yesterday to discuss a joint bid from ESPN and Sky Sports to cover top-flight football for the next five seasons. A decision is expected within the next fortnight.

However, the offer, believed to be around £60 million, is half of what Setanta were prepared to pay before the Irish broadcaster collapsed.

All United chairman Stephen Thompson would say as he left the meeting was, “There was a full and frank discussion, and there is no denying these are very difficult times for the SPL.

“We now have to make the right decision for the future well-being of our clubs.”

US broadcaster ESPN announced yesterday they are to launch a new UK sports channel on August 3, which will be shown on Sky and will feature the 46 Barclays Premier League games originally scheduled for Setanta.

“And there’s a lot more to come from Murray. I feel his best years are ahead of him.

“He’ll get better and better, and put pressure on others for a regular first-team berth.”

Murray, who joined up from Livingston, is part of the Saints squad down in Warwick as part of their pre-season.

They again had an early rise today and, instead of a run, the squad worked out in the swimming pool.

Among them was Kevin Moon, who had been ruled out of training so far due to a nagging groin injury.