Dundee manager Tony Docherty is looking to do "quite a bit of business" before the transfer window closes but would not be drawn on reported interest in 29-year-old Charlton Athletic midfielder Scott Fraser. (The Courier), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Heart of Midlothian are working on a permanent deal for Crystal Palace midfielder Malachi Boateng, the 22-year-old who spent last season on loan to Dundee. (Daily Record), external
Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, SNSDundee "got the job done" by breaking down a "well-organised" Annan Athletic to progress to the League Cup last 16, says striker Simon Murray.
Murray netted his first goals since re-joining the Dens Park side in the 3-1 win, which maintained their winning start to the season.
The victory moves Tony Docherty's men two points ahead of Wednesday's opponents, who have played an extra game.
"It was a tough game, we knew it would be," Murray told club media, external.
"They were pretty well-organised, tough to break down at times, a different pitch than we're used to, but we managed to get the job done in the end.
"I think that's us through to the next round and that's what we set out do."
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty praised the winning mentality of his players as they booked their place in Sunday’s last-16 draw of the League Cup.
Two late goals - from Simon Murray, claiming a brace, and Seb Palmer-Houlden - secured a 3-1 win over Annan Athletic at Dundee’s temporary home of Glebe Park.
The Dark Blues go into their final group game against Inverness on Saturday knowing qualification has been secured - to the delight of Docherty
“It was a hard-fought match and I’m hugely proud of the players,” he told Dundee’s website after the game.
“That was the objective we set when we met on the first day of the season - to stay unbeaten throughout pre-season and then carry that form onto the cup competition and I’m really proud of them that we managed to do that.
“It was something that really annoyed me last year that we didn’t get to that stage, but we’ve done it and I’m hugely proud."
Image source, SNSThe draw for the last 16 of the Scottish League Cup will take place on Sunday.
It will be broadcast live on Premier Sports following their coverage of Motherwell v Partick Thistle at Fir Park, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.
The top-flight's five European representatives - holders Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren - will enter the draw and will also be seeded, along with the three best group winners.
All last-16 ties are scheduled to played on the weekend of 17/18 August.
Image source, SNSAntonio Portales and Diego Pineda celebrated Dundee's top-six finish in May
Dundee have confirmed the departure of Diego Pineda "by mutual consent", with the Mexican forward having made just six appearances during his year at Dens Park.
The Scottish Premiership club say the 29-year-old has returned to his homeland to seek a new club.
Pineda became Dundee's second signing from Mexico's second tier last summer when he followed in the footsteps of former Atlante defender Antonio Portales, who had recommended his compatriot to manager Tony Docherty.
However, while his countryman has since played 26 times, including two this season, the former Correcaminos UAT forward, who scored once in his six outings, has not featured since early November.
Image source, SNSDundee assistant manager Stuart Taylor insists not having home advantage on Tuesday for the club's League Cup clash against Annan Athletic won't be a problem for the players.
Dundee's home games in the competition are being played at Brechin's Glebe Park to give the new pitch at Dens Park time to bed in.
The club say they have "invested heavily" in a new playing surface and drainage system following a series of postponements due to waterlogging last season.
"It’s not frustrating at all because the most important thing was making sure the pitch at Dens was ready for the first league game of the season," Taylor said.
"The club have looked to go and get a pitch close by for the supporters first and foremost, so they can come in their numbers because they were fantastic for us last season.
"That was a big thing the club looked at and getting Brechin, the pitch is good. It’s a pitch our lads will enjoy playing on.
"With this group of players, you could go anywhere, they just love going on the pitch. They’re in a really good place at this moment in time."
Image source, SNSDundee assistant manager Stuart Taylor has been speaking to the media before the club's League Cup clash against Annan Athletic.
Here are the key points from his press conference:
On not being able to play this game at Den's Park, Taylor insists it's not a problem for the players who "could play anywhere".
Says assurances have been made that the pitch will be ready for the first game of the league season and that is the priority.
Adds that Dundee won't take anything for granted against Annan Athletic who have had a good start to the season themselves.
Says Tony Docherty "threw down a challenge" for the players and they've taken it on board.
On Joe Shaughnessy's fitness, Taylor wouldn't give a timeframe but insists he's coming along well which is a "big lift" for the side. He also adds that they won't rush him back to action.
Dundee are keen on a move to take Scott Fraser on loan from Charlton Athletic after the 29-year-old ended last season with Heart of Midlothian. (Daily Record, print edition)
Ethan Ingram has revealed that fellow full-back Owen Beck's success with Dundee on loan from Liverpool last season was key when joining the Dens Park club and rejecting a new contract with West Bromwich Albion. (The Courier), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSEthan Ingram, second right, celebrates after opening his Dundee account
Tony Docherty hailed his Dundee players for their resilience in breaking down solid Arbroath defending as they notched up a second League Cup win of the campaign.
Jon McCracken saved a first-half penalty before Luke McCowan scored from the spot for the visitors, and new signing Ethan Ingram wrapped things up with just over 10 minutes to go.
"It was a brilliant test for us,” boss Docherty told Dundee TV.
"Arbroath were very well organised and it was tough. The players had to find the answers and that’s what was really pleasing about the result and performance.
"In the first half we were trying to find a way, we addressed it at half-time and in the second half I thought we were really, really strong in our performance.
"The clean sheet from the back three and also the attacking options I had coming off the bench, all in all it was a really good night."
Image source, SNSLong-serving defender Cammy Kerr has done the "hardest thing" in his career by leaving his boyhood heroes Dundee.
Kerr, who has joined Queen's Park on a one-year deal, had been with Dundee for two decades, rising through the youth ranks to make his first-team debut in January 2014.
He departs at age 28 have played 272 games for the club, winning the Championship title in 2014 and 2023 and Premiership play-off three years ago.
Kerr said: "I'd just like to thank everyone at Dundee for an amazing time, an unforgettable time.
"It's been something that's been part of my life since I was five years of age. Growing up, all I wanted to do was play for Dundee.
"I've been incredibly lucky to get to do that for so long. It's extremely hard to say how I feel but leaving this club is the hardest thing I'm going to do in my career."
Kerr had a testimonial game in November before spending the second half of last season on loan at Inverness.
"Cammy has been a tremendous servant to Dundee Football Club and he has given so much to the club," Dundee said.
"Cammy, we wish you all the very best for the next chapter in your career."
Image source, SNSHaving secured a sixth-place finish last term on their Premiership return, Dundee are a club that believe they "belong in the top six", says former midfielder Kevin Thomson.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, Thomson feels that success - plus having rivals Dundee United back in the top flight - will raise expectancy.
"I think Dundee will have a really good season," he said. "Tony Docherty knows what he's doing. I think he'll back himself against the likes of Derek McInnes, Stephen Robinson and Stuart Kettlewell.
"But there is an expectation now. You've also got your arch-rival back in the league and Jim Goodwin will want to have a say in that."
Despite the demand to back up their top-six finish, Thomson suggests it could be a more challenging campaign this year with rivals improving and United returning.
The former Dundee captain believes achieving anything close to what they managed last season would still be a success.
"The fans want more," Thomson added. "They want to try and squeeze into Europe, they want to get into the top six again, so anything less than that sometimes feels like you're not doing so good.
"But I just think if they can get anywhere near what they did last year and get back into that top six, Docherty will have done an unbelievable job."
Dundee fan Paul Gray "cannot wait" for the derby against United on Premiership opening day and is full of optimism over how Tony Docherty's side will fare in meetings with the newly-promoted Tannadice side in the upcoming campaign.
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Image source, SNSDundee have so far added five new recruits this summer, including the eye-catching capture of striker Simon Murray.
However, the Dark Blues' best bit of business may well lurk in the dugout. Having steered the club to a sixth-place finish last season in his first year as a boss, Tony Docherty has been rewarded with a contract extension.
It's a deal that has gone down well among the support.
Paul Gray, of the Up Wi' The Bonnets podcast, said: "I think that's one of the signings of the summer because there was word that other teams were sniffing about him."
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, Gray added: "I think a lot of people have taken a liking to Tony. His pre and post-match interviews are absolutely spot on. He says how it is.
"I think he does have this ruthless side, which I absolutely love but he comes across like a guy you really want to play for, a guy that you want to really bust a gut for.
"So it's a great thing having him here."
Image source, SNSSimon Murray (centre) is one of the five signings Dundee have made this summer
Dundee manager Tony Docherty says he will will aim to add to his squad "right up until the end of the transfer window".
The Dens Park side have already recruited five players this summer, but Docherty knows he needs to add to that having lost more than 10 from last season's squad.
The Dundee boss has suggested "patience" will be required if they are to land their remaining targets.
"It’s a process and it’s something we'll continue to do," Docherty added.
"Sometimes you need a bit of patience because you are waiting for the right player and person to compliment what's a really good existing playing staff.
"We'll be endeavouring to do that right up until the end of the window. I know what we're going to need to withstand the rigours of the campaign and I know the players I want to bring in."
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media prior to their League Cup group trip to Arbroath on Tuesday.
Here are the key lines:
Docherty was "absolutely delighted" with the opening 7-1 win over Bonnyrigg Rose but feels his side "could have scored a lot more goals".
The Dundee boss says Saturday's result shows how better equipped his team are for the group stage this year.
Dundee will be looking to recruit players "right up until the end of the window," Docherty added.
He says he knows "what we’re going to need" and "the players I want to bring in".
Docherty adds that progression from the League Cup groups is a "key objective" for his side.
On team news, Charlie Reilly has a strain but Seb Palmer-Houlden will return.
Image source, SNSCurtis Main is raring to go for the season ahead after netting a hat-trick in Dundee’s opening 7-1 Premier Sports Cup win at Bonnyrigg Rose.
The 32-year-old grabbed two first-half goals and headed in with 10 minutes left to complete his treble.
The former Motherwell, Aberdeen and St Mirren centre forward returned to Scottish football in January following a spell with Indian club Bengaluru, but did not score in his 15 appearances for the Dark Blues last season.
“For a striker it is great to get off the mark early doors, and for myself it is fantastic to get a hat-trick in the first game,” Main said in a club media interview.
“Last season was not what I expected from myself and I know I can do better.
“It was just in terms of the fitness side of things, I was not in a position where I would have liked to have been.
“Now after a full pre-season I’m going into these games feeling really great, confident and really fit so I’m really looking forward to attacking the season.”
Image source, SNSZak Rudden featured for Dundee in pre-season
Zak Rudden has signed a two-year contract with Queen's Park 24 hours after mutually terminating his contract with Dundee.
The 24-year-old striker returns to the Scottish Championship after finishing last season on loan to Raith Rovers.
Queen's Park head coach Callum Davidson told his club website: "I worked with Zak before at St Johnstone and I know the positives that he will bring us.
"I have been looking to get him for a while now. He is one of the three or four that we would like to bring in. The others are of a similar quality and, if we get them all, everyone will see the direction we want to go in."
Davidson thinks Rudden will give the Glasgow side an attacking threat they were missing and "be one of the leaders" in his squad.
"Zak likes to be in the box scoring goals, but he also likes to stretch the game as well," he added. "He can extend the game for us as he runs the channels.
"Last season, we played a lot of good football. However, when teams pressed us, we did not have an out or the threat that someone stretching the game brings. We have that now in Zak."
