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Dundee United boss Gordon Chisholm has backed Jason Scotland’s bid to save his career in this country by signing for First Division leaders St Johnstone.


Saints manager Owen Coyle, formerly coach at Tannadice, has moved to fix up the Trinidad striker, and the Perth club are in the process of applying for a work permit for him.

Controversially, Scotland was denied a new permit with United during the close season, but Saints hope is that, because they are playing in a lower division, he would be deemed to meet the necessary criteria. There is a chance, though, the matter could again be decided by the same committee of largely ex-Hibs players who blocked his continued employment at Tannadice.

While he remains frustrated at being denied the services of a man he rates highly, on a personal level, Gordon would be delighted if Scotland could come to an arrangement that allowed him to continue to live in Dundee and make his living as a professional footballer.

“As a club, there is nothing we could do to stop something like this because Jason is free to find a new team and, anyway, I would be happy for the boy if he could get something sorted out.”

Scotland is back in Dundee on a six-month tourist visa and has been granted training facilities at Tannadice so he can keep himself fit.

He had been back in new Trinidad coach Leo Beenhakker’s plans, but his lack of a club saw him left out of the squad for last night’s World Cup qualifier against the USA in Hartford, Connecticut.

“I’ll be speaking to him later, but, for the moment, there is not a lot I can say, other than I hope he gets fixed up somewhere soon so he can get back playing football,” added Gordon.

Saints’ attitude to the situation is that there is no harm in trying, particularly if they end up with a player most of the football community believe to be of SPL quality.

“I wouldn’t be doing my job right if I didn’t bring quality players to St Johnstone. Jason is available and is a top-class player,” said Owen.

“If we’re successful in getting him, it will give us tremendous competition in the striking department, with Steven Milne, Stephen Dobbie, Peter MacDonald and young Andy Jackson already on our books.”