Legal boost for Hartley in pursuit of wages owed

Sheriff lifts the barrier preventing former Dundee FC boss seeking payments

A legal barrier preventing former Dundee FC boss Paul Hartley from pursuing the club for unpaid wages has been removed during a court hearing.

The former club boss was sacked from his position in April and he is now locked in a legal battle over claims he is still owed money by the Dens Park outfit.

In an interim hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday, the sheriff dealing with the case recalled an interim interdict which had prevented Hartley from raising a petition to pursue payment of wages he is owed.

Sources say the 40-year-old wants the wages he would have been paid for the rest of his contract in a lump sum, rather than in separate payments and had threatened to petition to have the club liquidated in his pursuit.

It is believed Hartley wants the wages paid this way so that he is free to apply for jobs elsewhere.

The Scotland international landed the managerial position at Dundee in 2014 after a playing career which saw him appear for clubs including Celtic, St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Hearts.

He won promotion from the Championship that year and went on to establish the club’s place in the top flight.

However, he lost his job in April after seven straight defeats, and was replaced by fellow former Scotland international and Sky Sports pundit Neil McCann.

In a statement released after his sacking in April, Hartley said: “I’m disappointed not to have been given the chance to see out the remainder of the season because I firmly believe we would have retained our SPFL Premiership status.

“However, I respect the decision made by the Dundee FC board and would like to wish everyone success in the final five games of the campaign.

The 25 time capped former midfielder did not attend the hearing and the case was continued for further orders of court with no date yet set.