United and Dundee have released a joint statement detailing their intention to talk to ‘the relevant authorities’ as a result of recent comments made by Rangers chairman David Murray.

Speaking in The Sunday Times, Murray said that Rangers had been unfairly blamed for Scotland’s problem with secretarianism.

"I was amazed to see what goes on between Dundee United and Dundee on the websites,” he was quoted as saying.

"In some of these websites it's just as bad as Rangers and Celtic but because it's not the west of Scotland it doesn't get the same reviewing."

Both Tayside clubs have now reacted to Murray’s remarks in unequivocal terms.

"We now intend to raise this matter with the relevant authorities to bring an end to it, and trust the good name of both Dundee clubs and their supporters remains unblemished in the eyes of not only Scotland's football fraternity but throughout the whole of Scottish society," read the two clubs’ joint statement.

"While Mr Murray was referring to independent supporters' message board websites rather than the official websites of Dundee and Dundee United, we are nevertheless appalled at the attempt to deflect criticism by manufacturing a situation which simply does not exist between the two clubs.

"Sectarianism is not an issue in Dundee, is not an issue between the two clubs in the city and is not the subject of any abuse between the two sets of fans.

"This attempt to tarnish the good name of the city and its two senior football clubs is outrageous."