Dundee

Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Senior Journalist

Image source, Press Eye

Dundee want to speak to Linfield boss David Healy about their managerial vacancy at Dens Park.

Last month the Dark Blues sacked Tony Docherty one day after securing their Scottish Premiership status for next season in the final game of the campaign.

Healy, who is the Northern Ireland men's team's record goalscorer, has been in charge of Linfield since 2015 with a club spokesperson confirming to BBC Sport NI that the terms of the 45-year-old's contract allow him to discuss the move.

This season's Irish Premiership title was Healy's sixth at the Windsor Park helm with the Blues finishing 22 points ahead of Larne.

He has also won two Irish Cups, three BetMcLean Cups and one County Antrim Shield during his time in charge of the Blues.

In August, the former Manchester United and Rangers striker turned down the opportunity to take over at Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers and said he was "content" at Linfield.

Former Celtic midfielder Shaun Maloney, as well as former Dundee players Charlie Adam and Temuri Ketsbaia, have also been linked to the role.

Dundee have been granted permission to speak to Linfield's David Healy about the managerial vacancy at Dens Park. (Sun), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Dundee are favourites to sign midfielder Drey Wright, 30, following his departure from St Johnstone. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

Dundee's new era under their yet-to-be announced manager will begin at home to second-tier Airdrieonians on Saturday 12 July in the Premier Sports Cup.

The Dens Park side then visit Alloa Athletic and Bonnyrigg Rose in Group C before hosting Montrose.

Image source, SNS

Dundee will face newly-promoted Championship side Arbroath in a pre-season friendly.

The currently managerless Dark Blues travel to Gayfield on Saturday 28 June for a 15:00 BST kick-off.

Dundee sacked Tony Docherty following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season after the club finished just above Ross County in the relegation play-off spot.

Dundee are hoping to unveil their new managerial appointment next week, with managing director John Nelms meeting with potential managers across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. (The Courier, external - subscription required)

Rangers' interest in out-of-contract Dundee midfielder Josh Mulligan is on hold until the Ibrox club appoint a new head coach, but the 22-year-old has other options, with Charlton Athletic and Salford City also keen. (Daily Record), external

Ziyad Larkeche, the 22-year-old left-back, says he is returning from his loan to Dundee unclear about whether "there is a real plan for me" at Queens Park Rangers after Marti Cifuentes was dismissed as manager before the end of the season. (The Courier, external - subscription required)

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

As Dundee's search for a new manager continues, the fans will probably still be breathing a sigh of relief at avoiding relegation.

Their basement battle went right to the last day of the Premiership campaign and for all connected with the Dens Park club, it was far too close a call.

The new man, whoever he may be, will have plenty in his inbox, but one of the main objectives will be to ensure they find themselves nowhere near such peril next term.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? But it won't be straightforward - just ask Tony Docherty.

Recruitment will be key. Over the past couple of seasons we often heard about how young a squad Dundee had.

That is commendable in many ways, but could also explain the inconsistency that got them into difficulty last term.

Perhaps the club need to focus on bringing in a bit more experience this time around. Maybe try and source a few more grizzled, seasoned pros who know their way around the Scottish game.

Those are decisions for the new manager – the identity of whom we should know in the next couple of weeks.

Image source, SNS

Dundee have been drawn alongside Airdrieonians, Alloa Athletic, Montrose and Bonnyrigg Rose in Group C of the 2025-26 Premier Sports Cup.

Yet to appoint a new manager after the shock sacking of Tony Docherty, the tournament will mark the new boss' first game in charge of the Dens Park club, with the opening fixture on 12-13 July and further matchdays on 15-16 July, 19-20 July, 22-23 July and 26-27 July.

The eight group winners and three best runners-up will join Scotland's five European entrants - Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United - in the last 16 on the weekend of 16-17 August.

Dundee have won the trophy on three occasions, with their most recent triumph coming in 1974.

Image source, SNS

Speculation on who Dundee's next boss will be continues to swirl.

Reports suggest former Celtic forward Shaun Maloney is the leading contender, with ex-Dens Park midfielder Charlie Adam also in the frame.

So why would the Dundee board be interested in either of those names? "They are looking for a young, progressive coach," says The Scotman's sports editor Mark Atkinson.

Adam is currently working as a set-piece coach at Everton after being sacked by Fleetwood last December following a year in charge.

Maloney is also a free agent after leaving Wigan in March, lasting 14 months at the club. The ex-Scotland winger previously spent just four months in charge of Hibs.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, Atkinson said: "Dundee want to get their academy up and running and they want to build a philosophy right through the club.

"I think that's why Maloney is of such appeal. He obviously knows [technical director] Gordon Strachan, who is among the hierarchy at Dundee.

"Adam would probably fit into that category as well. I think Shaun's got slightly more experience, but Charlie's a massive Dundee man.

"He also played for the club and I think it would be a real honour for Adam if he was to get that job."

A week on from Tony Docherty's sacking, we asked who you would like to get the Dundee manager's job.

Here's what some of you said:

Jayeffell: None of the names being mentioned excite me. Even the thought of Charlie Adam returning makes me ponder his time at Fleetwood as being less than successful. Shaun Mahoney failed bad at Hibs. John Kennedy from Celtic perhaps but untested (like Doc) as a boss. An experienced boss with Simon Murray as player/coach. You'd have a team of triers at least if they follow his example.

Ronny: Scott Brown, he stands no nonsense.

Iain: Maloney has been pushed by the media as the front-runner from day one. I don't see that working. I'd like to see Adam in the role. He loves the club, and has been building on his experience since he finished his playing career at Dens. He'd also attract players to the club.

Jim: Dundee need an experienced manager, not a roookie! Brown seems a good candidate for the job.

Adam: Temuri Ketsbaia has managed at a decent level and would unite the fans but I can't see our board going for it. Maloney or Adam would divide the fanbase massively. Neither seem like an upgrade on Docherty. Thinking we've made a mistake bulleting Doc!

Flynn: Personally those names do not excite me that much. I would be looking for Brown as he has got lots of experience from playing in the league and he has done well at Ayr with the resources he has been given.

Gary: I think we need someone who'll use the players we've got in the right style of sensible attacking football. There's always names bandied about but after initially being unenthused by Maloney I'm slowly warming to it. I'm sure he's reflected on what he could've done better at Wigan and a pre-season behind him might have a better outcome than he got at Hibs. Ketsbaia might be an outfield shout, he'd have a different style and would want to play attractive football, but even somebody like Brown might be worth a punt, at least he'd give them the fight they need.

Marc: I'd give it to Andy Woodman from Bromley. We have to try something different and going for another journeyman Scottish football manager will get us nowhere. And if he's successful he will get a bigger job back in England.

Former Wigan Athletic head coach Shaun Maloney is a leading contender to be Dundee manager, former captain Charlie Adam is likely to be considered, fellow Dark Blues midfielder Temuri Ketsbaia has expressed an interest, while Ayr United's Scott Brown and Bromley's Andy Woodman are contenders. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

One week on from the shock news of Tony Docherty's sacking, the search goes on for a new manager at Dens Park.

Dundee fans, we want your views on who the club should target to lead the team forward.

Former midfielders Charlie Adam and Temur Ketsbaia have featured in our gossip column in recent days, with ex-Hibernian and Wigan boss Shaun Maloney reported to be the frontrunner.

Do any of those names excite you? Or do you want someone else? Send us your thoughts.

Shaun Maloney would be interested in signing veteran striker Jordan Rhodes if he is appointed as the new Dundee manager. (Alan Nixon via Courier), external

Maloney remains the frontrunner to replace Tony Docherty, but Charlie Adam - who finished his playing career at Dens Park - would also be keen to take Dundee forward. (Courier), external

Image source, SNS

Former Dundee midfielder Temur Ketsbaia, who was most recently in charge of Cyprus, has expressed his interest in the vacant manager job at Dens Park. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Ross County should not have been awarded a stoppage-time penalty in their 14 May draw away to Dundee, the Scottish FA's key match incidents panel has ruled.

Ronan Hale equalised and the result meant the battle between the two sides to avoid second bottom spot and a play-off to remain in the Scottish Premiership went to the final day of the season.

Home defender Antonio Portales was penalised for a handball, but the KMI panel decided by a majority of four to one that VAR should have intervened to recommend to referee Walsh that he should cancel the award.

However, one member of the panel highlighted that they thought it was a punishable handball and the penalty award was correct.

Despite the reprieve at Dens Park, County finished second bottom and go into Monday's second leg at home to Championship runners-up Livingston with the tie level at 1-1.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

What a week at Dens Park. Last Sunday Dundee ensured Premiership survival with a comfortable 2-0 win at St Johnstone as a number of players, including two-goal hero Lyall Cameron, played their final match for the club.

On Sunday night at the supporters' player of the year event, 22-goal striker Simon Murray deservedly scooped most of the awards after a sterling campaign.

Then on Monday just after 9.30am came the bombshell news that manager Tony Docherty and his backroom team had been sacked.

So, what next for the Dark Blues? The club will have a number of names they are interested in speaking to.

Interviews will begin next week with those chosen by John Nelms, with the likelihood the following week a preferred candidate will have been identified.

It may be the close season but there is little time to waste for whoever is given the role.

With a League Cup campaign beginning in just seven weeks, a squad will have to be assembled and ready for a new season.

We asked for your views on which players you would like to keep from Dundee's out-of-contract list.

Here's what some of you said:

Gary: We've got to at least try to keep Josh Mulligan, Scott Tiffoney, Joe Shaughnessy and Antonio Portales, in his new midfield role. Also got to try for a permanent return for Ziyad Larkeche, he's been immense. If only we had somebody on the right! As for the manager? Why is Shaun Maloney even being mentioned? Surely the first phonecalls are to Stuart Kettlewell and Neil Lennon? Both have the necessary top-flight experience.

Eddie: Shaughnessy is a must keep, a lot more stability at the back with him there, still not great but build around him and we'll be fine. Mohamed Sylla and Mulligan, I would also love to keep but I know in my head they will most likely depart, the rest I'm not fussed about.

Ben: I'd be doing everything I could to get Mulligan and Sylla signed on new deals, however I reckon both will probably leave. I'd offer Shaughnessy a new deal as he offers valuable experience, however we can't afford to be as reliant on him next season defensively. I'd offer Portales and Tiffoney new deals, but wouldn't be too gutted if either of them leave. Scott Fraser and Charlie Reilly are both good players but far too injury prone, get rid.

Ethan: We are yet to see the best of Reilly, there is an explosive player there waiting to be unleashed and Dundee need to take that gamble on him. Shaughnessy and Portales for me, also have to stay. They are our most trustworthy defenders at the moment.

Mark: I would offer them all new contracts but Fraser and Reilly, they still need to prove themselves. Can't imagine them all staying so we need a new manager in sooner than later so he can start planning for next season.

Ross: Big Joe, Josh and Mo are a must to stay, especially Josh. He's the guy we need to build the team around. If the directors want to show ambition then they need to push the boat out with an offer to keep him at Dens for at least the next three years.

Image source, SNS

Lyall Cameron revealed his delight at leaving Dundee as a Premiership club before making his move to Rangers.

The 22-year-old midfielder, who signed a pre-contract with the Ibrox club earlier in the season, scored twice in the final-day 2-0 win at St Johnstone which ensured the Dark Blues avoided a relegation play-off with Livingston.

"It seems a long time ago since I made my competitive debut for the club against Raith in the League Cup at 16," Cameron told the Dundee website.

"I've learnt a lot since then and I am proud to have played as many games as I have for Dundee.

"I have decided that now is the time to move on and I want to thank everyone at the club who I've worked with over the years.

"I want to thank the fans who supported me until the very end and the ovation at the last home game was special to me and my family.

"I was delighted to end my time at Dundee on a high and help the team secure Premiership football next year."

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

With survival secured, Tony Docherty's Dundee tenure has been brought to an abrupt end.

The highs were great. Tony can hold his head high for guiding the club to a top-six finish, ending our 21-year wait for a derby win at Tannadice and leaving behind a solid foundation to build on made up of youthful prospects.

However, at the start of the season we were entertaining thoughts of Europe and in January we were 10 points ahead of St Johnstone who sat firmly at the bottom. Yet going into the final three games of the season there was still the mathematical possibility of Dundee finishing bottom.

The team have regressed and problems from Docherty's debut campaign continued to plague us this season.

In two consecutive seasons Dundee have lost the highest number of points from winning positions and often conceded the decisive goal very late on with no time to react.

Dundee were too prone to 'freak results' this season too – the Boxing Day calamity against Ross County (who had the worst away record in Europe at the time), ending Aberdeen's 14-league game winless streak, shipping six goals to Hearts and surrendering favourable leads to St Johnstone, Dundee United and Kilmarnock. All those games were played at Dens Park.

Another problem was after the sale of Luke McCowan, the midfield dynamic was never repaired.

Perhaps one of the reasons why we conceded so many goals was down to the fact the defence were overexposed with little protection. The best Dundee's midfield ever looked post-McCowan to me was when Cesar Garza was introduced into the team alongside Mo Sylla, a partnership never seen again while Lyall Cameron was available.

Cameron finished the season strong, but questions were raised on Docherty shoehorning him into the team – prioritising the midfielder's development ahead of deploying a system that best suits the squad.

While I can sympathise with Docherty over injuries and departures, there is still a feeling more could have been done. We went into the season knowing Joe Shaughnessy would miss the majority of the campaign, we knew Scott Fraser was going to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, and yet the recruitment policy overwhelmingly favoured prospects over maturity.

While I think these are good players with strong potential in time, that's time Docherty no longer has to reap the benefits. Neil McCann made a similar error during his Dundee reign too.

When Gary Bowyer was sacked on the back of winning the Championship title, no one among the fanbase was calling for Docherty to get the job and by the end of the following season we were all pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

This feels like a similar situation, emotions are high and the frontrunner name - Shaun Maloney - isn't particularly popular. But Gordon Strachan proved the fans wrong once, he should be trusted to do the same again.

The decision maybe is harsh on Docherty, but there is something refreshing about Dundee showing ambition and refusing to reward mediocrity.

Image source, SNS

Dundee loan trio Seb Palmer-Houlden, Oluwaseun Adewumi and Ziyad Larkeche have returned to their parent clubs.

Striker Palmer-Houlden scored nine goals in 39 appearances during his season-long stint from Bristol City.

Burnley forward Adewumi played 37 games, netting six goals, while QPR left-back Larkeche made 31 appearances and scored three times during his injury-disrupted stint.

Lyall Cameron will depart to join Rangers this summer and Jordan McGhee has agreed a pre-contract move to Motherwell, while uncertainty surrounds the future of seven other players at the managerless Dark Blues.

Captain Joe Shaughnessy and fellow defender Antonio Portales, midfielders Josh Mulligan, Mo Sylla and Scott Fraser, and forwards Scott Tiffoney and Charlie Reilly are all out of contract and currently in limbo as the club seek a new manager to replace the sacked Tony Docherty.

Dundee fans, who would you be keen to keep from that out-of-contract list?

Tell us here

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Who next for Dundee following the shock sacking of Tony Docherty?

Will they go for a safe pair of hands? Will they go for an up-and-coming young manager? Or will they go leftfield?

The club have plumped for the latter option a few times over the years.

The two appointments prior to Tony Docherty's arrival – Mark McGhee and Gary Bowyer – ticked the leftfield box.

And if you go a bit further back you can add the likes of John Brown and Ivano Bonetti to that list.

It will be intriguing to see what kind of road John Nelms and co opt to go down.

What is for sure is that whoever is recruited will have to hit the ground running.

The decision to move Docherty on will be viewed as harsh by some. Having built a squad from scratch he overachieved in his first season at the helm.

And while things didn't go as planned this time round there are some mitigating circumstances, with crippling injuries near the top of that list.

When an appointment is made, the new manager will become the fifth person to occupy the Dundee hotseat in just three years - after James McPake, McGhee, Bowyer and Docherty.

A high turnover of managers is rarely conducive to steady progress on the park.

Stability in the dugout will surely be key to the club's owners being able to preside over the period of on-field success they so clearly desire.