Tannadice chief Tony Asghar insists he remains confident Dundee United will be compensated for their work rearing Lewis Neilson.
The former Tangerines kid has joined Hearts on a three-year deal, with the Jambos adamant they have landed the promising defender on a free transfer after he knocked-back the offer of a new contract on Tayside. But United argue they should be weighed in having spent almost a decade developing Neilson, who first joined the club as a 10-year-old school boy before going on to make 10 top-team appearances last term.
The wrangle will now have to be settled by a SPFL tribunal but United sporting director Asghar expects the Hampden panel to find in the Terrors' favour. He said: “There’s been a lot of talk about Lewis Neilson. We have a case that I assume will next go to tribunal. We feel that we’re due compensation as a football club.
“That’s with our legal team and the SPFL at present. Are we confident? Very confident.”
Asghar’s Tynecastle counterpart Joe Savage said earlier this month: “We were interested in Lewis as soon as we heard there was a chance he might not renew his contract at Dundee United.
“To get him on a free transfer is great business from our perspective. We’re overwhelmed by it, to be honest.”
