Days at Dundee look numbered for Hemmings

KANE Hemmings faces an uncertain future at Dundee after refusing to take a pay cut amid financial hardship at Dens Park sparked by the coronavirus shutdown.

The 29-year-old is the only member of James McPake’s first-team squad who hasn’t agreed new terms proposed by the Dark Blues hierarchy as they fight to balance the books.

Last week it emerged Dee were prepared to invoke “clause 12” in player deals, allowing clubs to stop payments if the SFA halt football.

Those yet to take temporary drops in salary were sent emails warning them of the consequences of failing to accept salary reductions.

The clause states: “In the event of the Scottish FA deciding that the game shall be suspended, either entirely or in any district or districts as provided for in the articles of association of the Scottish FA, this agreement shall be correspondingly suspended, unless the club is exempted from such suspension or the club otherwise determines.”

Dundee players were given a deadline of midnight on Friday to respond.

A day later former Rangers kid Hemmings – in his second spell in the City of Discovery – was named as the only Dark Blues ace refusing to say ‘yes’ to cuts.

He is backed by PFA Scotland, who asked a QC to look at “clause 12” earlier this year when Hearts threatened to invoke it following advice to teams from SPFL lawyer Rod McKenzie.

Union boss Fraser Wishart has urged clubs and their stars to work together to find solutions during the Covid-19 crisis.

But unless Hemmings has a change of heart, Dundee will move to suspend his contract.

Last month Jordan McGhee replaced Josh Meekings as skipper after agreeing fresh terms, with new vice-captain Paul McGowan also accepting salary reductions.

Meekings, 27, had come to the end of his contract and left as a free agent, having failed to strike a deal with Dee chiefs.

Hemmings – who departed for Oxford United in the summer of 2016 – returned to Dundee on a

Dundee managing director John Nelms.