The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Graham Dorrans reveals reasons behind decision to remain at Dens
DUNDEE: Midfield man knocks back move south to stay at Dens Park
A combination of family and football reasons has kept Graham Dorrans at Dundee.
The former West Brom midfielder considered moving back across the border to sign for MK Dons but was happy to extend his contract with the Dark Blues after weighing up the pros and cons.
“I am pleased to know what is happening with my foreseeable future,” he said.
“I had a couple of conversations but I thought it was right to stay here and continue the football I have been playing for the last six months.
“I have enjoyed myself getting back playing.”
On MK Dons, he added: “I had a chat and went down and had a look.
“It is a great stadium and they are a lovely club but I just thought for family reasons it was more suitable to play here.
“If I had been moving back down south then I probably would have been going on my own. So that was something that came into it but it wasn’t the only decision.
“I have enjoyed the four months I have been here. I have played 16 times for Dundee and am back enjoying my football again.
“That was the main reason for staying here. I am also fully fit so hopefully I can push on until the end of the season and just play as many games as possible.”
Does Dorrans feel a sense of loyalty to Dundee?
“It was a difficult spell, the 18 months I spent out injured so you could say that,” he said.
“They have given me a platform to come and play each week, which is what every footballer wants to do.
“I am feeling good. I had been out for a long time but when I came in I was fit.
“However, I wasn’t match-fit because I hadn’t had a run of six, seven, eight games for a long time.
“I have now managed to do that and for the last month or so I have been feeling really good.”
Dorrans and his team-mates face Dunfermline at East End Park tonight with the aim of “creating a little gap” of safety for the play-offs.
He said: “They are just behind us in fifth place so they will be looking to get a win to claw some points back but we are looking to pull further away.
“Obviously last week was disappointing but we move on and hopefully we can get the three points and create a little gap from the play-off spots to outside it.
“We just need to take it game by game to try to secure that play-off spot. Obviously we want to finish as high as possible in the league because it is an easier route in the play-offs but I don’t think we can look any further than Dunfermline.”