As he reported for last weekend’s clash with Partick Thistle, like everyone else at Dens Park he was rocked by news of Cox’s passing.

Fittingly, it was the skipper’s first goal of the season that clinched victory against the Jags and his illustrious predecessor will remain in his thoughts as he attempts to get over the winning line in the First Division promotion race.

“I suppose it was nice that, as captain, I got the goal last week and now we want our name on the championship trophy to honour Bobby,” said the 31-year-old.

“We all knew he was ill, but it still hit us hard when we got here for the game and heard the news. It was hard to go out and play, but we wanted to do it for him and he’s in our thoughts.”

And while today’s service was another sad time for the players, Paton has pledged that, should tomorrow’s trip to Raith Rovers beat the weather, their focus will be 100% on the job in hand.

“We’ve a job to do and we aim to do it — hopefully, the game will go ahead, but I know there is a doubt about it,” he added. “In my career, I’ve never known a winter like this and most weeks we’ve been waiting to hear if we’ll be playing or not.

“In terms of getting games played, we’ve done better than just about anyone, but even we are facing a spell of seven games in a month.

“That’s a tough schedule, but you just have to get on with it and one thing we’ve got going for us is that our injured players are coming back because, at times like these, you need your squad.”

Raith are battling to make Stark’s Park playable and have called for volunteers to help them deal with what has gone from being a frozen surface to waterlogged.

The chances of action don’t look good, but Jocky Scott is keeping his fingers crossed he’ll be making the trip to Fife.

“We are really keen to play because we do not want a backlog, but with this weather we are in the lap of the gods,” said the Dundee boss.

“If the game is on, it is going to be a case of picking a team for the conditions as well as the opposition, so I’ll have to have a look at the pitch before I decide.”

Meanwhile, Raith will be without the injured Iain Davidson, Mark Campbell, Laurie Ellis and Johnny Russell tomorrow, while Gregory Tade and Stephen Simmons are suspended.

Returning to Bobby Cox’s funeral, today saw a glowing tribute from city rivals Dundee United.

“Bobby Cox was one of the true greats of Scottish football and, like our own Dennis Gillespie at the time, it is a travesty that he was never recognised at full international level,” said Tannadice head of communications Derek Robertson.

“In the early 60s, it was common for supporters to go to Dens and Tannadice week about and, although a United fan, I was frequently taken to Dens by my father and uncle and have great memories of Bobby Cox in the European Cup campaign of 1963.

“He brought great credit to the city and I was lucky enough to meet him when he was captain of Dundee and more recently in the boardroom at Tannadice.

“It was a great thrill — he hadn’t changed and remained a perfect gent and a real ambassador for football in our city.

“The thoughts of everyone at Dundee United FC are with the family and friends of Bobby Cox today.”

While he has nothing but good thoughts of his former central-defensive partner, such is the newly recalled Scotland squad member’s regard for the Bairns boss’ professionalism, he knows he does not have to put it into words.

“When games like these come round, people like to come out with all that good-luck-once-we’ve-beaten-you stuff, but I don’t see the point and I don’t think he will,” said Webster.

“He knows he has to look after his business and I know I have to look after mine, so nothing needs said and we’ll just get on with our jobs.”

That the day has come when Webster will be looking into the technical area and seeing Pressley in charge of a team, comes as absolutely no surprise to him.

Neither does the fact Falkirk performances have improved since he took over from Eddie May in the Bairns’ hot seat.

“I was his team-mate at Hearts for five years and, from the time I arrived, it was obvious he was one who thought a lot about the game and was probably going to go into coaching when he stopped playing.

“He was also one I learned a lot from about how to handle myself on and off the pitch and, as a young player, he was great to play beside.”

There will be no room for sentiment tomorrow and, while a win for the visitors would see them off the bottom of the league, Webster feels three points are just as important to United.

“We are chasing third and if we can improve our home form just a bit, we have a great chance of overtaking Hibs, so games like this are vital.”

Boss Peter Houston is keen to adopt a one-game-at-a-time approach, but looking at recent home results knows there is room for improvement.

“Our last five games at Tannadice have seen two wins, a draw and two defeats, so we can do better,” he said.

“That said I am not looking any further ahead than tomorrow because Falkirk will present their own set of problems.

“They are battling for points to get off the bottom and won’t be easy to beat, but we have to be looking for a win.”

Paul Dixon is set to return, but Jon Daly is a slight doubt with a niggling thigh injury.

That figure takes into account a gain of £460,000 in the transfer market from buying and selling players.

Bank interest charges were £357,000, down from £543,000 in the prior year reflecting reduced interest rates and a decision to enter an interest rate swap at a fixed rate.

Net administration costs rose by £211,000 to a combination of factors including increased utility bills, essential repairs and re-classification of overheads.

Wages rose to £3.6m. due to the renewal and extension of various contracts.

Bank borrowing at the end of the year stood at around £5.7m. and a further reduction of £100,000 was made to the term loan during the year.

The club’s overdraft figure was increased from £116,000 to £596,000, some of which was due to the Setanta default.

During the year, directors’ loans were reduced from £192,000 to £135,000.

Chairman Stephen Thompson said, “At the beginning of the year, we forecasted a modest net profit, based on various factors, including finishing no higher than six in the SPL.

“We actually finished in fifth place, but did not receive the expected, or budgeted, payment from the SPL, due to Setanta failing to meet their contractual obligations.

“This resulted in an exceptional bad debt and a modest net loss for the financial year.

“Had it not been for this event, which was totally outwith our control, the club would have posted a net profit for the second successive year.”

Mr Thompson added that the club has made “undoubted progress” in their financial position over the last few years.

With the replacement TV contract on the horizon, it is expected United will face considerable challenges in the coming year.

Mr Thompson praised support provided by the bank and said the club had secured additional funding to cover any shortfalls some of which has come from the Thompson family as previously pledged.

“The financial results for 2009 are largely in line with what was forecasted last year.

“Their reduced level of TV income has, however, presented challenges in the current financial year and will continue to do so in the next year.

“But I am confident that the measures that have been put in place to compensate for this will ensure that the club continues to thrive,” said Mr Thompson.

Saints’ 5-1 success was the heaviest inflicted by any side on Hibs since John Hughes became their manager.

Kenny Deuchar was on the mark that night. However, an ankle injury sustained late in that game rules him out tomorrow.

However, Cillian Sheridan and Liam Craig, who both netted twice, are in the squad and looking to continue their scoring exploits against Hibs.

Cillian’s brace were his first Saints goals, and the McDiarmid Park side’s manager Derek McInnes is delighted with the on-loan Celtic striker.

“Cillian has been doing well and his two goals last time out against Hibs have boosted his confidence. I’m really pleased with the way he’s been performing.

“He’s fitted into the dressing-room and, on the pitch, he does particularly well when we go with two up front. I feel he can now kick on from here,” said Derek.

Although Saints were not in any way flattered by that 5-1 win, Derek knows they still face a difficult task tomorrow.

“I’m expecting a tough game. They’ll be looking to put that 5-1 reverse right behind them and we know we’ll have to play well to win. I’m well aware no two games are the same.”

With no match last Saturday, Derek revealed his players are “itching to get started and they’ve been looking good in training.”

Due to the adverse weather, Saints have had to train at times in Glasgow this week.

A lot of their players are based in the west of Scotland and, with the weather causing problems on parts of the A9 between Glasgow and Perth, a change in training plans has been needed.

“Although we’ve mostly been training indoors, they’ve been good sessions,” Derek went on.

Filipe Morais is now recovered from injury and is in the squad.

Collin Samuel, who recently underwent knee surgery, is also upping his fitness and he, too, is in the pool.

Jody Morris is suffering from a stomach problem and a decision on his participation will be taken nearer kick-off time.

Kevin Rutkiewicz, a long-term absentee, is progressing, as are Stuart McCaffrey and Peter MacDonald.

Martin Hardie is awaiting another knee op., but has been working hard in the training routines he’s able to accomplish.

As for Hibs, manager Hughes has told his underperforming Easter Road players to show “100% commitment” to the cause — or leave the club.

Hughes insists he will never “slaughter” his third-placed team — but wants to see a massive improvement in their recent record of one point from four SPL games, starting tomorrow.

“I only want boys here who, when they put that jersey on, give me 100% commitment,” he said.