Custodian comment showed Eddie's true class

Oct 19 2008 Andy Walker

CHAIRMEN, managers and players come and go while even stadiums these days are changed but as always the fans remain. They are the one true constant in football.

Eddie Thompson, the Dundee United chairman who died last week after a long battle with cancer, was well aware of this simple truth and humbly admitted: "I've just been a custodian of the club."

The Tannadice chief was a man who knew what supporters wanted and worked tirelessly to bring them a club to be proud of.

Eddie made his fortune in the retail trade and through a love of football in general, but of Dundee United in particular, ploughed many of his millions into a club that at one time seemed to have more money than sense.

Years ago in this column I referred to him, somewhat crassly, as "The Golden Tit".

I felt Eddie was someone agents and players regarded as a soft touch, a chairman who threw his money about without too much homework on what the club were getting. Finishing nearer the bottom of the SPL rather than the top was a regular and frustrating occurrence for a United team that constantly under-achieved.

Average players were earning fortunes and my view was United were seen as a club who gave a lot out but expected little back.

Eddie wasn't happy with my comments and phoned to let me know.

He didn't rant or rave but pointed out certain things I was unaware of and finished by insisting that the next time I was in Dundee I should pop in for a chat. I took him up on that offer and I'm glad I did.

He was extremely warm and his enthusiasm for football and family shone through.

He asked me all about my old man's business because, like Eddie, my dad was an accountant.

We discussed all the footballing issues of the day and it was obvious Eddie cared passionately about his club and was constantly looking at ways of improving the product on offer to the fans.

He was desperate to give them more and couldn't understand the attitude of some so-called big-name players he'd agreed could sign for his club.

Nor could he understand why he was paying thousands every week to so many players when clubs such as Inverness and Kilmarnock were finishing higher up the table.

Understanding footballers and what made them tick was a great mystery to Eddie.

I wonder what he would've made of the latest footballer to go in the huff?

I'm convinced he would be horrified at the arrogance of Rangers star Kris Boyd after the striker told the SFA he'll only play for the national team once they get rid of George Burley.

Even if the SFA did as he asked the chances are any new man will do exactly what Paul Le Guen, Alex McLeish and Walter Smith have all done - by using the ex-Killie striker sparingly.

Boyd is a great scorer but as soon as players start to feel sorry for themselves and look to dictate managerial ins and outs, it's time to take action. Nobody can dispute the fact Boyd's scoring record is impressive.

The one valid criticism is he rarely finds the net on the big occasion.

Goals in both domestic cup finals last season were the first signs of doing it when it really mattered.

But in big European games Boyd was often a spectator with Smith trusting others to deliver when it matters.

Given he was left out of the squad in the first Old Firm match this season it looks as though Boyd will flit in and out of the Rangers team in much the same way this campaign.

With his bit-part role at Ibrox the striker was never in a strong position to force his way into the Scotland side.

The Tartan Army certainly felt he deserved more of a chance but to walk out on Scotland will not go down well with supporters.

As for Eddie, the fans on Tayside will miss him for the extreme generosity he showed their club.

But of all the tributes I've heard since his death, United boss Craig Levein summed up what most people felt.

Craig said he simply wished he'd had the chance to know him longer and that first and foremost Eddie was a good and decent man.