A DUNDEE FC director yesterday told a court that Luca Frediani, the club's former fitness coach, had asked him to help fix him up with the services of a prostitute just two hours before a vital Premier League fixture.

Jim Connor, 43, the club's commercial director, was giving evidence at the trial of Paul Marr, Dundee FC's director of football, who has denied head-butting Patrizio Billio, the club's Italian midfielder.

Marr, 27, along with fellow defendant Danny Rice, 26, both deny assaulting the 27-year-old former AC Milan player as he left Dens Park stadium with Italian team-mate Marco De Marchi.

Marr has also denied charges that he entered Frediani's flat and removed items, including two satellite decoders, a lap-top computer, a printer, two watches clothing, champagne and (pounds) 790.

Billio and De Marchi had been heroes among Dundee fans when they first arrived from Italy, but a contractual dispute has meant that they have not played for the club for more than 18 months.

Mr Connor said fitness coach Mr Frediani had approached him through Dario Magri, interpreter and club co-ordinator, as the team were preparing for a league match against Hibernian.

Mr Connor told the court, ''Prior to the match against Hibs, Mr Frediani approached me in the team hotel through interpreter and club co-ordinator, Dario Magri, to ask if someone could help set him up with a prostitute just two hours before a match and while wearing a Dundee FC tracksuit.

''If the press had a hold of that at the time, it would have been front page news and it would have had a catastrophic effect on the club.

''It was not lost in translation and I knew that this man was not morally fit to represent Dundee football club. I have very strong feelings about that.

''I would not have wanted Dundee FC to be splashed across the newspapers with this kind of story.''

Mr Frediani denied evidence that he had asked Mr Connor to help fix him up with a prostitute.

Jim Laverty, defence solicitor, said: ''Mr Frediani, it has been said in court that that you were not to be given a contract because of concerns about your morality.

''Was there an occasion when, through Dario Magri, you approached Jim Connor seeking the services of a prostitute?''

Mr Frediani replied: ''No, not true.''

Mr Connor had earlier told the court that, on January 9 this year, he had witnessed Mr Billio on his knees and with his hand covering his face just yards from the front door of Dens Park - allegedly after he had been head-butted.

Mr Connor said: ''He was on his knees beside a car about 15 yards from the entrance. He was kneeling and as I approached him he rolled on to his back and was lying flat on his back when I got to him.

''His hand was on his head and he said nothing. Marco de Marchi was also there, as was Paul Marr. I didn't see any injury.''

Mr Connor admitted telling the Italian star that the assault was not unexpected because of the midfielder's long running contract dispute.

Mr Connor said: ''I said something like this was going to happen and basically you are a fool for not sorting things out when the club has tried so many times to date.

Mr Billio said the alleged attack had left him nursing a swollen and cut head and had left him shaken. Billio alleges that the attack took place shortly after he had a meeting with Paul Marr, who, he alleged, told him that he should look over his shoulder when he left the

stadium.

Mr Billio said: ''I met Paul Marr and he seemed very agitated and he asked me to follow him into his office. He told me that there was no way they could find a solution to my contract problems. I asked him why he was so agitated and he said 'you know fine well'.''

''He told me that when I left the stadium I should look behind me and over my shoulder.''

Billio says that on the day of the alleged assault, he left the stadium with team-mate De Marchi who stopped to tie his shoe lace shortly before the alleged assault took place.

He said that he saw Marr and Rice talking to each other outside the stadium and that Marr made a gesture with his head as an indication to Rice that he was pointing out who Billio was.

He claims that Rice then walked quickly towards him and head-butted him ''with a lot of force.''

Billio said: ''Rice approached me with accelerated steps. I saw him coming towards me and he tried to grab me by the arm.

''He hit me with his head on my left temple with a lot of force. Above my eye it was cut and swollen. If I was facing him instead of being to the side of him I would have broken my nose.

''I fell to the ground and stayed there until the police came. I was confused and frightened after the incident but I remember who it was who came towards me.''

The trial at Dundee Sheriff Court continues.