MARR UNVEILS PLAN TO HELP SAVE DFC
Former Dundee owner Peter Marr today unveiled a long awaited plan to help save the club.
The Dark Blues Business Trust will be launched with a meeting at Dens Park on Tuesday night and around 200 figures from the local business community will soon receive invitations.
The scheme - which has the backing of the administrator - hopes to raise a six figure sum to help secure the Company Voluntary Arrangement that will lift Dundee out of administration.
Therefore, it is hoped the Trust will take an interest in the RUNNING OF THE CLUB, alongside supporters' representatives and private shareholders.
Peter has agreed to front the trust on behalf of a local board made up of 5 local businessmen, though he is ADAMANT NEITHER HE OR HIS BROTHER JIMMY INTEND ON TAKING THE REINS AT DENS for a second time. Rather, he insists the scheme is designed only to secure the funds that will ensure the club's existence both in the short and long term.
He said "it's not about me and Jimmy. It's about bringing the business community of Dundee into the club, so we've got the best possible chance of A) getting out of administration as quickly as possible and 
making sure the club is a viable enterprise in the future.
"The best way to do that, we thought, was to set up a trust that mirrored the fans' trust and would work alongside them to raise some extra to take the club forward.
"We have our trust deed in place now and the next step is to get everyone we can to the Launch on Tuesday night. We've got a list of between 150-200 local businesspeople who we will be inviting, but we don't know every businessperson in Dundee - far from it.
"For that reason, it's open to anyone who feels they may have something to offer, or who wants to hear us outline the plan."
It is understood Bryan Jackson will attend the meeting - illustrating the potential significance of the scheme - and Peter is hopeful enough goodwill still exists in the city to ensure the administrator's faith is repaid.
While the former Dee owner was reluctant to put a concrete figure on the kind of commitment the trust is looking for - "we're not going to turn anything down" he said - it is believed spreading the net wide could provide the right amount of interest to ensure a six figure sum is reached.
He added "It does rely on goodwill, but I think we can get there. We're looking for a lot of people to put in smaller amounts, rather than hoping for one person to chuck a lump sum in.
"Likes of myself, I'm putting a donation in for myself and one for my wife, so it's an affordable figure we're looking for.
"The end result will hopefully, be that the trust will negotiate with the administrator to TRY TO GET SOME SORT OF SHAREHOLDING IN THE CLUB.
"Then - SAME AS THE FANS WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE - WE'LL HAVE A VOICE ON THE BOARD HELPING TO TAKE IT FORWARD UNDER A COMMUNITY BASED OWNERSHIP MODEL, WHICH IS WHAT BRYAN JACKSON FAVOURS.
"Ultimately, it's just about making sure our club survives and I'm hopeful that's a cause that can unite everybody in the city.
"But I think we need the business community in order to go forward. THE FANS HAVE DONE THEIR BIT - NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO DO OURS."
The inaugural meeting of the Dark Blues Business Trust will take place in the Penman Lounge at Dens on Tuesday at 7 pm. Interested parties should contact Graeme James or Alison McQueen at Dens on 889966.