The legacy of a man who lived for United

Eddie Thompson's emotional and financial commitment to Dundee United, while never in doubt, did not go untested over his six-year stewardship. In 2004 the former United chairman, who died yesterday, resisted the financial muscle of Vladimir Romanov, who was seeking to invest in a Scottish club.

Consequently, the Lithuanian turned his attention to Hearts. Derek Robertson, the United director and close friend of Thompson, believes the 67-year-old has been vindicated in his decision to turn down Romanov who, for a £2m input, wanted to bring in players from the Baltic states and sell them for profit.

"He did not get the full credit for his commitment to the club and its supporters," said Robertson. "Not long after he took over, when the banks had started cutting the knees off club owners over their debts, he had the opportunity to walk away and save around £5m by allowing Vladimir Romanov to buy the club.

"It was a tempting offer, very tempting, to get out but instead he decided that he had spent so long trying to gain control of the club and open it up to the fans that he would not give it up that easily. It is no time to be critical of Hearts but he felt uneasy about selling the club to overseas investors and I think that gut feeling has been vindicated.

"He wanted the club to remain in the hands of Scottish-based people and Dundee United people and turned it down. It was a bold decision and he used the proceeds from the sale of his company to make the club financially secure."

Thompson's heavy financial investment failed to yield the desired results on and off the park and it was not until the past couple of years that the club started heading in the right direction. The clearing of debt over the past 18 months and the appointment of Craig Levein in October 2006 were key developments.

He also encouraged supporters to play an active role, allowing them to buy shares and setting up a trust for collective share ownership. ArabTRUST, the Dundee United Supporters' Trust, is now the second largest shareholder after the Thompson family.

"His legacy is in two or three parts," continued Robertson. "Firstly, despite his illness, he worked doggedly, unselfishly, to ensure the club was on a safe financial footing and moved to strengthen the Thompson family shareholding. Secondly, in Craig Levein, he found a manager and a friend who was able to match his own ambitions.

"Thirdly, he was a man of the people. He opened the club to its supporters for the first time ever. I don't think anyone fully appreciates just how ill he has been this past year but, with the help of everyone at Ninewells Hospital, he was still able to come to Tannadice when he could. He showed such willpower that any lesser mortals would have succumbed to his illness a long time ago."

In Levein, Thompson finally found the right man to provide the club with a stable football base. In his first full season in charge, the former Hearts and Leicester manager took United to the CIS Insurance Cup final and challenged for a European place. That Thompson recently made Levein a director spoke of the affection and respect between the two.

"We have lost someone I'd call a decent guy and, as close as we've become, he is someone I wish I could have known a lot longer," said Levein. "As a chairman, he could not have backed me any more than he did, but it is as a good man that I think of him. We knew how ill he was and we have been expecting this. That means in some ways you can steel yourself for it, but when it happens, it is still terrible news."

It took Thompson several failed attempts to find the man he believed to be the long-term answer for United. Prior to Levein, five managers came and went, including a couple whom Thompson counted as close friends.

"He did the things he thought was best for the club and even got rid of friends like Paul Hegarty and Maurice Malpas," said Dave Bowman, the former Dundee United player who is now on the coaching staff at Tannadice. "He wasn't scared of making big decisions and that's why the SPL board were keen for him to join them. He was a wee guy with a big voice."

Bowman also spoke of Thompson's willingness to back his managers financially. "He pulled out the stops to get the players they wanted. He had a very close relationship with Craig and they had a bond. Sometimes Craig would say a player was too dear but the chairman would help him find the money from somewhere.

"That's what he was like, because he wanted the club to be the best it could be.

He sacked me in the past but there were no grudges held."

Gordon Chisholm was the fourth man to try his luck under Thompson when he succeeded Ian McCall in March 2005. During his 10-month spell, Chisholm led United into the Scottish Cup final, which they lost 1-0 to Celtic, and also into the UEFA Cup the following season, where they lost to MyPa-47.

"He was very passionate about football and was always proud when United did well," said Chisholm. "I am glad that I gave him one of his proudest moments when we got to the Scottish Cup final. He was a proud man that day because he had achieved something he had set out to do when he came to the club. We also played in Europe during my time there and that was another proud moment for him.

"His commitment and dedication to Dundee United was amazing. He was in at 8am every morning and was the last to leave at the back of seven. He was just so determined and so driven. Eventually it turned out to be his life.

"There were a couple of times when trying to sign players that he would cancel hospital appointments. Sometimes you would think, There are more important things in life,' but United was his life and his aim was to get them to where he felt they should be. He was a very hands-on chairman and wanted to know absolutely everything that was going on at the club.

"First and foremost, he was a fan. He had a long battle to get a hold of the club and I think that made him even more determined to succeed when he got there. He also put his money where his mouth was.

"He worked hard for that money and could have decided to give it to his children or do something else with it. He could have sat back and taken hospitality, and just been a fan, but he wanted more than that."