United Debut: v Dunfermline (A) 3-1 11/1/97.

Signed From: Motherwell (player swap) 7/1/97.

Transferred to: Dunfermline (player swap) 25/2/99.

United manager Tommy McLean returned to his old club to bring Dolan to Tannadice in a player swap deal with Owen Coyle halfway through the 1996/97 season. Dolan had an impressive debut at East End Park as United beat Dunfermline 3-1 and went on to miss only one match as United finished 3rd in the League and qualified for Europe in their first season back in the Premier Division. Dolan started the 1997/98 season well, playing regularly as United reached the final of the League Cup, but by November he was in and out of the first team until February, when he missed only one more game as United survived a relegation battle with Hibs. The following season Dolan fell out of favour, and after the arrival of Paul Sturrock as manager, he was involved in another player swap deal, this time with Scott McCulloch as he headed to Dunfermline.