And, even if it doesn’t, it is a nailed-on certainty the stadium where the Dark Blues have been based for the last 110 years will remain their long-term home.

It emerged yesterday no deal for the proposed sale of the ground by owner and Dundee United director John Bennett to Dundee’s multi-millionaire backer Calum Melville had been struck.

It’s understood they are a six-figure sum apart in their valuation and that led to Dundee announcing they were happy to continue the present leasing agreement with Bennett.

They recognise he did them a huge favour earlier this year by coming up with the six-figure sum that allowed them to settle a £7.5 million debt with HBOS.

He took ownership of the stadium as part of that arrangement and has other outstanding loans at Dundee.

Bennett accepts, now he has returned to Dundee United, it would be better if he could sell Dens, but that will only happen if he feels he is getting a fair price.

Right now, agreement between Bennett and Melville looks a considerable way off, but the deal is not completely dead.

What has emerged is that should they finally be able to shake hands on a price, Melville’s tenure as owner would be unlikely to last longer than a year or so before he would hand it over to fans’ Trust Dee 4 Life.

While it is set to be a few more months before there are any further developments, what is clear is Dens Park’s worth is based on it being used as a football stadium.

For a start, any change of use before 2019 would involve a repayment of a seven-figure sum received in grant aid from government agencies for the building of the Bobby Cox and Bob Shankly stands at either end of the stadium.

Young German Andis Shala, however, is set to sit that one out because of a groin problem that’s seen his name added to the lengthy list of injured strikers.

“I think Andis was feeling left out so he went to the gym to do some work the other day and picked up a strain,” laughed Craig.

“It’s not too bad and he’s already back working on a bike, but I think he will probably miss out against Blackburn. He should be OK by the early part of next week and we will have him available when Hearts come here in the league.”

United’s Open Day goes ahead this Sunday from noon-3.30.

With on-field skipper Paton, however, he is set to be given right up until Saturday lunch-time to bounce back from a dead leg.

“Eric did all the pre-season work and that means I would be confident of using him even if I had to wait until Saturday to know he was OK,” said Jocky today.

“With Rab, it is a bit different because he has already missed a couple of weeks of the work and I think he’d have to be training for a couple of days before Saturday. Because of the nature of his problem, I don’t want him pushing too hard and maybe playing in this one then having to miss the next two or three weeks.

“He is desperate to play because he is fed-up being injured, but he is an experienced pro and sensible enough to know whether or not he is ready.”

Striker Pat Clarke and defender Dave Cowan both managed part of last night’s friendly draw with Belgians Royal Antwerp and that has put them on course for the weekend squad.

Dundee’s Open Day goes ahead on Sunday, August 16.

Arbroath, meanwhile, can expect a healthy travelling support as well when St Johnstone head up the east coast.

Dundee United will also be travelling when they head to Alloa, with ties being played either on Tuesday, August 25, or the next evening.

Full draw - Inverness CT v. Albion Rovers; Forfar Athletic v. Dundee; Dunfermline Athletic v. Raith Rovers; Arbroath v. St. Johnstone; Partick Thistle v. QOS; Alloa Athletic v. Dundee United; Hibs v. Brechin City; Ross County v. Hamilton; Kilmarnock v. Morton; Ayr United v. St. Mirren.