The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Whose Dens deals are ending this summer?
Another season ends in disappointment for Dundee, as they head back to the Championship, with big changes this summer.
Gordon Strachan has already been preparing for the new campaign.
There will be changes to the playing squad, but who is out of contract now?
Charlie Adam
The Dundee skipper’s two-year contract came to an end on the final whistle at Livingston. He’s already stated his desire to move into management and says he will not play for another Scottish club if he moves on.
Talks are due this week but a vacant manager’s office makes things uncertain.
If it is the end, Adam finished off at Dens Park in style with a screamer against Hibs last week.
Appearances: 65; goals: 11.
Declan McDaid
Winger McDaid has had a mixed time since becoming James McPake’s first signing back in 2019.
There were flashes of promise – a brace in a win over Arbroath and another strike two weeks later at old club Ayr United in his first season, earning him Championship player of the month in October 2019.
But at other times he dropped out of the team and headed out on loan.
Under Mark McGhee, McDaid was pressed into action as an emergency striker, starting three Premiership matches and emerging with credit.
Appearances: 70; goals: 4.
Christie Elliott
Elliott’s attacking instincts from full-back were better suited to a team at the top of the Championship than a Premiership relegation fight. But he finished on a high note with the opening goal against Rangers in March.
The 30-year-old played a big role in Dundee’s promotion run a year ago, covering Jordan Marshall’s injury at Dunfermline.
Appearances: 56; goals: 3.
Danny Mullen
Mullen ended this season as Dundee’s top scorer with seven goals but turned down a contract extension.
The frontman arrived in the summer and was a tireless worker, and while not a prolific scorer did come up with some key goals in his time at Dens Park including the opener at Rugby Park in the playoff final second leg.
Appearances: 63; goals: 15.
Liam Fontaine
Fontaine, 36, is also coming to the end of his Dens Park contract. He was a mid-season arrival in 2020, providing an answer to some serious defensive issues.
He was also a goal threat with three strikes in four games and was vital to the promotion run.
Back in the Premiership, the Scottish Cup winner played 24 times last season. If he goes, his influence in the dressing-room will be missed.
Appearances: 48; goals: 4.
Vontae Daley-Campbell (loan ends)
Brought in from Leicester City, Daley-Campbell, 21, made a big early impression.
He was impressive on his debut in a 0-0 derby at Dens but, in his second game, a wild tackle earned a straight red card against Ross County. He started just one of Dundee’s final 12 matches.
Appearances: 10.
Zeno Ibsen Rossi (loan ends)
Bournemouth centreback Ibsen Rossi failed to make an impact. After three starts in a row, the defender lasted just 23 minutes against Livingston as Dundee were torn apart at home with the score at 3-0. Appearances: 4.
Rest of the squad?
Contracted to 2023: Adam Legzdins, Cammy Kerr, Jordan Marshall, Ryan Sweeney, Jordan McGhee, Alex Jakubiak, Paul McGowan, Lee Ashcroft, Josh Mulligan, Luke McCowan, Paul McMullan, Fin Robertson, Ian Lawlor, Cillian Sheridan, Max Anderson, Lyall Cameron, Sam Fisher, Harry Sharp, Ewan Murray and Niall McGinn.
Contracted to 2024: Shaun Byrne, Jay Chapman.
Contracted to 2025: Zak Rudden.