The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Mohsni and Flood join United exodus
TANGERINES: Tunisian defender and captain part of Tannadice clearout
Dundee United have been unable to hang on to central defender Bilel Mohsni, who is one of 13 players confirmed as leaving the club.
The great Tannadice clearout started the day after their Friday night play-off failure at Livingston and it is as comprehensive as predicted.
Manager Csaba Laszlo had been hoping that Mohsni, who has been named in Tunisia’s provisional squad for next month’s World Cup in Russia, would show gratitude for being handed a pathway back into football by agreeing a new deal with United.
However, the sight of his name on the official departure list confirmed he is on his way.
Mohsni is joined by captain Willo Flood, Mark Durnan, Cammy Ballantyne, Jordie Briels, Paul Quinn, Grant Gillespie and Emil Lyng, while it is the end of loan deals for Thomas Mikkelsen, Harry Lewis, Anthony Ralston, Craig Slater and Brandon Mason.
Laszlo said: “I would like to thank each of these players for their efforts in the United shirt. “I wish them all the best for the future.
“We are well along the road in the process to improve the squad for next season and fans should expect updates on this soon.”
Flood rejected the chance to stay at Tannadice and become a youth coach. United had offered the Irishman, who is out of contract next month, a modified deal for next season.
However, the 33-year-old midfielder is determined to play on and that means his third spell at United is about to come to an end.
Flood first joined on loan from Cardiff City in 2007, had a spell at Celtic, returned for two years in 2011 and, after some time at Aberdeen, came back for his third stay in 2016.
United have, meanwhile, been linked with a move for their former striker Simon Murray.
Murray left the Tangerines last summer for Hibs and spent the final part of the season just ended at city rivals Dundee.
He still has a year left on his Easter Road contract but United are understood to have sounded out the Hibees about a possible return. Murray, though, is expected to wait and assess his options and he could have interest from the Premiership.
United, who are having a complete overhaul of their personnel, are keen to keep Fraser Fyvie – currently sidelined by injury – but newly-relegated Ross County are keen on the midfielder.