By Sean Saranczuk
May 18 2002

Dundee United manager Alex Smith could swoop for striker Eoin Jess after Bradford were placed in administration. The former Aberdeen and Coventry man joined the West Yorkshire club 18 months ago for then manager Jim Jefferies.

The administration team will trim all areas of the club including highly-paid players but Smith admits the player must take a major drop in salary to come to Tannadice.

"I've never hidden my interest and admiration in Jess," said Smith.

"I imagine he is one of their bigger earners and we've found it very difficult to bridge the gap between his current wage and what we could offer him.

"We'll just have to wait and see how the picture develops."

But United goalkeeper Alan Combe's hopes of a permanent move to Bradford have been ruined by the financial crisis at the club.

"The Bradford news is a bit of a shock and I would think the situation now is that we can't deal with the club direct," said Smith.

"We'll just have to wait and see what happens, but, as far as Combe is concerned, there are one or two other interested parties."