Ex-Dee midfielder embroiled in US pay dispute

FORMER Dundee star Nick Ross is confident an ongoing pay dispute will not end his American dream.

The midfielder, whose club El Paso Locomotive plays in the USL Championship, has been asked to take a pay cut along with every other player in the division by league bosses.

An initial 30% wage cut for all players was rejected after being tabled by the league, before the USL players’ union responded with an offer of a 10% reduction, matched by a 10% contribution from the league, which was also turned down.

With a provisional restart date of July 11, the league are also looking to secure the right to cancel the season at any time, which could jeopardise foreign players’ visas if contracts are cancelled.

Inverness-born Ross, who lifted the Scottish Cup with his hometown team in 2015, said: “It has been going on for a while now. It has been a bit crazy.

“It’s things you wouldn’t think you’d be fighting for in a big league like this – fighting for the minimum wage of £20,000 a year, which the league said no to.

“Someone told me that 5% of the league is on £1,000 or less,” he said.

“There are so many foreign players throughout the league. I think they need us to come over here to give it a better name, because you get some pretty big players coming over here and having a good career.

“I think it would be a big mistake if they did that but I’m sure they won’t. I’m sure they will realise they need to keep the players happy and willing to come back in the future.

“Hopefully it doesn’t personally, because then I would be stuck and having to go back home.”

John Baird during his time with Dundee.