 When Jim McLean became Dundee United manager later that year, he placed great emphasis on the club developing its own youth players, and Payne would be one of the first to break through.As a provisional signing, he was called up to play for the reserve team in 1972.After turning professional, he made his first team debut aged 17 on the opening day of the 1973–74 season, playing against East Fife in a Scottish League Cup match.