Under-fire Dundee united chairman Stephen Thompson was last night urged to give up control of Tannadice and bring in fresh blood to search for investment before the club plunges into administration.

Gavin Muir, chairman of ArabTrust, a leading supporters’ society and third largest shareholder at the Tayside club, believes there has to be large scale change on and off the park following the protests which followed the side’s 3-1 home defeat to Hamilton on Sunday.

Supporters chanted for Thompson’s removal and Muir believes there can now be no other solution with impending relegation certain to damage United’s fragile finances even further.

“We understand that has to be done in a controlled manner for it to be in the best interest of the club,” said Muir.

“We are hoping we can maybe appoint some interim directors to the board to allow them to source some investment and arrange for an orderly transfer of power away from the current major shareholders.

"The club have had unprecedented levels of transfer income over the last few seasons and that should have put the club on a sound financial footing for several years to come, but the club continue to have huge operating losses, nearly £800,000 in the last financial year and potentially even higher than that in this financial year.

“That's not sustainable. There's no confidence amongst the support that the current board of directors can actually turn things around.

"Administration would just be Armageddon for the club and it's something we all have to work towards ensuring doesn't happen.”

Muir has also levelled fierce criticism at the manager, Mixu Paatelainen.

"Mixu's record has been terrible,” he said.

Meanwhile, United fans are turning their back on next Monday’s derby match with Dundee because they cannot bear the prospect of seeing their side relegated at Dens Park.

Disillusioned Dundee United fans are turning their back on next week's crunch derby clash - because they can't bear the prospect of being relegated at Dens Park.

"We can confirm that we have taken another 1,000 tickets for next week's derby fixture which we will sell,” said Dens Park stadium manager, Jim Thomson.

"They had been held back for Dundee United fans in case they wanted them, but their sales have been sluggish.”