Dundee locked in legal battle with Hartley

Dundee FC are locked in a legal battle with former manager Paul Hartley over claims he could attempt to put the club into liquidation, according to reports.

The Dens Park side and their former boss, who was sacked from his job in April, are set to go head-to-head at a hearing at Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

According to our sister paper, The Evening Telegraph, sources allege Hartley has threatened to petition to have the club liquidated, amid claims he is still owed money by Dundee chiefs.

A legal interdict is in place to stop him making that move — but it’s understood that Hartley could bid to have that withdrawn at the interim hearing.

Legal representatives from both sides will put their cases forward to a sheriff but a decision may not be made on the day.

If Hartley attempts to have the interdict withdrawn, but the sheriff rejects that, it will prevent him from making any moves to liquidate the company.

But if the sheriff decides to remove the interdict, it could give Hartley the chance to attempt to force the club into paying him the money he wants.

It’s believed that Hartley wants the wages he would have been paid for the rest of his contract in a lump sum, rather than in separate payments, which would allow him to apply for jobs elsewhere.

Attempts to contact Hartley failed.

Dundee FC declined to comment and a lawyer for Thorntons, which is representing the club in the matter, also said she couldn’t speak about the case.

Hartley played for Raith Rovers, St Johnstone, Hearts and Celtic in a long distinguised career before moving into management with Alloa in 2011.

He joined Dundee in March 2014 and after securing promotion to the Premiership that season he bagged a top-six spot for the Dark Blues at the end of his first season.

Paul Hartley was sacked by Dundee in April after a poor run of results.