Club may invoke ‘clause 12’ in bid to ease financial hardship

DUNDEE:

Dundee may suspend the contracts of players yet to accept pay cuts amid financial turmoil at Dens Park.

In an email sent to players, seen by Courier Sport, the Dark Blues suggested they could invoke “clause 12” in their contracts, which allows clubs to stop payments if the SFA halt football.

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.”

It is understood eight Dee players have yet to indicate whether they will accept the pay cuts proposed by the club amid financial hardship sparked by the coronavirus shutdown.

They were given a deadline of midnight last night to respond. Dundee have lost revenue worth over £500,000 since football was suspended in March and face at least three more months of severely limited income, with the Championship not set to kick off until October.

Managing director John Nelms has spoken of the “difficult conversations” and “tough decisions” required as he fights to balance the books.

Former assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl and ex-captain Josh Meekings have already left the club in recent weeks, while the Dee youth academy is also set to face cuts.