Dundee

Former Dundee defender Lee Wilkie says signing winger Luke McCowan, 26, up on a new contract would be the club's best summer business. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Celtic have been monitoring Dundee midfielder Luke McCowan, while clubs in the English Championship and Major League Soccer are interested in the 26-year-old who is entering the last year of his contract. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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If you could only buy one, sell one, and loan out one player at Dundee, who would you pick?

That was the question we asked you to answer, with the transfer window now open.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Ben: I'd loan out Fin Robertson, definitely a player in there but needs a season playing week in week out in the Championship to help improve his physicality. I'd get rid of Curtis Main, holds the ball up well but looked way off the pace in games last season. I'd take a punt on signing Charlie McNeil, young talented striker just been released by Man Utd.

Carl: The Welsh Wizard, Owen Beck, would be a priority buy if money wasn’t a problem. He's a good fit in the team and apparently a good strong influence in the dressing room. Big Harry Sharp to be loaned, he needs a good run in the Championship. Zak Rudden to be sold, no explanation required.

Jefcal: Buy a full-back who can play both sides. Sell wee Lyall Cameron while we can. He has loads of ability but he can't tackle and gets steamrolled in big games.

Anon: We need a good centre-half and a striker who can scores 15 or more goals in a season.

Ayr United and Livingston are interested in 30-year-old Dundee centre-half Lee Ashcroft, who finished last season with the two club's Scottish Championship rivals, Raith Rovers. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Shaun Byrne has returned to Raith Rovers on a two-year deal after his Dundee exit.

The midfielder, 31, spent last season on loan in Kirkcaldy, playing 41 games as Rovers finished Championship runners-up before losing to Ross County in the play-off final.

Having moved to Dens Park from Livingston five years ago, Byrne was released by Dundee this summer after more than 100 appearances for the Dark Blues.

The transfer window opens on Friday and we want to know what matters to you most this summer.

If you could only buy one, sell one and loan out one player at Dundee, who would you pick?

Click here, external to let us know.

One-time Dundee target Jack McMillan is set to sign for Exeter City after the 26-year-old full-back rejected a new contract with Partick Thistle. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Image source, BBC Sport

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Representatives from Celtic, Hibernian and Ross County feature on the SPFL board for the 2024-25 season.

County director James MacDonald, Hibs non-executive chairman Malcolm McPherson and Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson make up the Premiership contingent.

Paul Hetherington (Airdrieonians) and Graeme Mathie (Ayr United) will represent the Championship, while Andrew Allan (Alloa Athletic) and Allan Maitland (Clyde) have been elected for League 1 and 2.

In a statement, the SPFL say clubs also "voted unanimously" to approve a recommendation that a new Ifab protocol for permanent concussion substitutes is used across all SPFL competitions.

"Each team will be allowed one concussion substitute per match in addition to the normal number of substitutes and substitution opportunities," they say.

"If that concussion substitute is used, the other team is allowed an additional substitute."

We asked you where Tony Docherty needs to strengthen his side in the summer transfer window.

This is what you had to say:

Darren: Two full backs and a finisher.

Phil: We definitely need bolstering on defence, as both full back positions need signings. Could do with another centre back, too. A wide player and at least two more strikers as well, so at least six positions need filling. I would like to see Aaron Donnelly, Dara Costelloe, Owen Dodgson and Jon McCracken sign permanently.

Carl: We need additional strength in defence, midfield and a proven goalscorer. Easy to write but mega difficult to carry out, as most teams, and some with loads more cash than us, are in the same boat. Go to it Tony Doc and weave your magic once again like you did last season!

Iain: We need a striker who can give us 15+ goals a season. We didn't take enough of our chances last season. We also need someone to look after the pitch!

Rod: A central defender needed the most as we let in too many goals last season. Like every team, a goal scorer up front would help us into the European spots next season. If we get some of the loanees back from last season then they will be more experienced as will our young players. We need to bring our own young players through every season.

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Dundee have announced they will face FC Banik Ostrava and Lech Poznan in two pre-season friendlies.

The game against FC Banik Ostrava takes place at Stadion MKS Promien in Opalenica on 3 July, before taking on Lech Poznan on Saturday 6 July at Stadion Akademii, Wronki.

Tony Docherty's side will play Arbroath and Dunfermline either side of their trip to Poland as they prepare for their second season back in the top flight.

It's been a quite summer so far at Dens Park with Dundee yet to announce any new signings.

Tony Docherty told BBC Sportsound last weekend he's busily working away on transfers, so rest assured.

When deals do start getting over the line, which positions do you hope are bolstered? What should be the manager's top priority this window?

Give us your thoughts. , external

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The results are in. And they may be a surprise.

We asked you to cast your vote on whether the Scottish Premiership should keep VAR or scrap it.

More than 3,000 of you responded to the poll - and while there was a clear majority, it was no landslide.

Those in favour of ditching VAR totalled 67% of voters, while 33% were in favour of favour of keeping it.

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Dundee will take on former manager James McPake's Dunfermline Athletic in a pre-season friendly, the club have announced.

Tony Docherty's side will travel to East End Park on Wednesday 10 July, with a 19:30 BST kick-off.

The Pars finished sixth in the second tier last term, seven points outside the promotion play-offs and just three points above the relegation play-off.

It will be the first time the two sides have met since a SPFL Trust Trophy thriller in January 2023, which Dundee won 4-2.

The Scottish Professional Football League has ordered Dundee to pay St Johnstone £15,000 after ruling on whether the Perth club should be paid for the costs associated with McDiarmid Park being the back-up "home" venue for the Dark Blues’ Premiership game against Rangers in April. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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BBC Scotland will continue to broadcast live matches and highlights from the Scottish Cup for another five years.

The new deal extends the BBC's arrangement of showing a game from each round - up to and including the final - on a free-to-air platform.

The contract also allows the broadcaster to produce "near live digital highlights".

The Scottish Youth Cup final will also be shown live for the next five years.

• Read the full story

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Dundee have lost their appeal against a £186,000 fine handed down by the SPFL over the state of the pitch at Dens Park. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Controversy and VAR have been intertwined ever since its implementation in the Scottish top flight in October 2022.

From handball decisions to fouls and penalties, managers and fans alike have had grievances over the technology - and the length of time taken for decisions to be made.

With the 2023-24 season complete and the new campaign a number of weeks away, would you rather see VAR scrapped from Scottish football or persevered with?

Cast your vote here.

Dundee have played down reports they are looking to sign Lebanon international Daniel Lajud, 25, after the president of his former club Atlante said the winger was moving to Dens Park to link up with former teammate Antonio Portales. (The Courier, external)

Click here for the rest of today's Scottish football gossip

New Liverpool manager Arne Slot will give Owen Beck, who spent last season on loan to Dundee, and Luke Chambers, who was with Wigan Athletic after a spell at Kilmarnock, a chance in pre-season to stake a claim to become Andy Robertson's understudy at left-back. (Daily Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Tony Docherty will never say Scottish football does not need VAR, but the Dundee manager wants improvements in the use of the technology after an "extremely frustrating" season with "too many mistakes".

Click here to listen to more from Docherty on Saturday's Sportsound.

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Tony Docherty hopes some of his loan signings from last season will return to Dens Park next term.

The Dundee manager welcomed 11 temporary signings as his side finished sixth, picking up players such as Owen Beck, Amadou Bakayoko and Malachi Boateng.

While the recruitment strategy was criticised by some, Docherty insists he has a new plan as he gets to work on rebuilding the squad.

"I had 11 loans this year, they'll go back," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

"The process starts all over again. We're formulating a plan. I was in a recruitment meeting just yesterday, .

"On holiday I was on the phone, you're watching players constantly.

"I had to do that last year because first year, you know what you're looking for. I've lived in Dundee for a while, I had a pulse of the city. I knew what the support wanted to see.

"That was the biggest achievement. When you start with loan players, some of them we will try to keep.

"That's the strategy behind that, they've enjoyed it. Some of them have gone back to their parent clubs because they've done that well, Owen Beck is an example."

We asked you to name Dundee's best cult hero signings - the player that showed up with little expectation (and perhaps ability) but won over the support.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Murray: Claudio Caniggia was the biggest name that Dundee had signed in a generation. The signing of the Argentine World Cup star was the talking point of Scottish football at the time. I remember working in Glasgow when a Rangers fan and work colleague of mine broke the news of Caniggia's signing with a degree of jealous amazement.

George: I remember Albert Kidd the day he scored two goals to beat Hearts. Also Keith Wright and Tommy Coyne, what a pair! They scored so many goals and paired perfectly.

Kevin: Has to be Sir Barry Smith, not just a cult hero but a one off.

Ben: Christian Nade. Was signed in the January window of the 2013/14 Championship season and was a signing that was laughed at by many at the time due to his poor stint at Hearts where he was mocked for being overweight. Despite only playing 13 games for the Dee, he quickly became a fan favourite and scored one of the two crucial goals on the final day.

Anon: Kostadin Gadzhalov. Came in, played well, solid at the back. Felt like he had cigars out half the time. Sadly never got much of a look in when McCann took full charge. Oh aye, and he scored the goal that relegated United, but boys will say that was actually Wighton.

Ross: Georgi Nemsadze was class and scored a memorable chip in the Dundee derby and the goal that took us to Scottish Cup final in 2003. What a player!

Mark: Georgi Nemsadze. The best player I've ever seen at Dens.