STUART FRASER

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DUNDEE UNITED WIN KEYLINE CUP TOURNAMENT IN OBAN
Freelance Article
By Stuart Fraser
13^th July 2008

Dundee United kicked off their pre-season programme of fixtures by winning the Keyline Cup in Oban on Saturday.

Manager Craig Levein took a full-strength squad to the small west coast town for the pre-season tournament, hosted by local club Oban Saints, which had also attracted Alloa Athletic’s first team and youth sides from Hamilton Accies, Hearts & St Johnstone.

The format consisted of five 30 minute games for each team and United were unbeaten in each of their games which was enough to clinch the trophy ahead of Hamilton in second place. Levein used the opportunity to field some of his summer signings including Northern Irish International Warren Feeney who, despite his failure to get on the scoresheet, looked impressive in the two games that he played.

Ahead of United’s trip to Ireland this week for two friendly matches, the manager felt the tournament was an ideal way to start his pre-season preparations.

Levein said: “The format allows me to bring 22 players down and give all of them between 60 to 90 minutes on the pitch whereas if I was just playing an ordinary friendly match, I would not have been able to do that.”

Levein also looked ahead to the forthcoming SPL season and praised Chairman Eddie Thompson for allowing him to strengthen the squad.

He said: “The Chairman has been great in increasing the budget for players this season. Because of that, we have strengthened just about all the areas of the team. I would love to be in the UEFA Cup come the end of this season and it would be a great measure of our progress in the last two years if we can do that.”