United star quits Tannadice. £200,000 man Telfer bids fond farewell to Tangerines after three seasons

Dundee United have announced that Charlie Telfer has left the club.

The midfielder cost the Tangerines over £200,000 in development fee compensation after being signed from Rangers in June, 2014 but found it difficult to become a regular at Tannadice.

Last season, he was loaned out to Livingston but in the campaign just ended, the 21-year-old made 38 appearances for Ray McKinnon’s side with his last game coming in the Premiership play-off final against Hamilton.

In all, Telfer made 71 appearances and scored six goals for Dundee United.

He said: “I am disappointed that my time at United has come to an end. I have enjoyed being part of this fantastic club and have made many friends on and off the park.

“I wish I could have helped United back into the Premiership, and while I will look back on that with disappointment, I will always remember my time at Tannadice with great fondness and wish the club all the best moving forward.”

Telfer becomes the latest player to leave United in recent days following the departures of long-serving club captain Sean Dillon, Paul Dixon, Luis Zwick, Frank van der Struijk and Jordan Garden.

United boss Ray McKinnon is eagerly looking forward to what will be his first derby as a manager in the Betfred League Cup.

The Tangerines were drawn against city rivals Dundee on Friday night in Group C which also features former Dark Blues boss Barry Smith’s Raith Rovers, Gary Locke’s Cowdenbeath and Highland League outfit Buckie Thistle.

The date and venue for the derby clash will not be known until later this week but McKinnon is already relishing the encounter which will also be his opposite number Neil McCann’s first derby as a boss.

He said: “I think it’s a great draw and it means people are already talking about next season and getting excited. For me it’s a great draw for the city and over the weekend people were talking to me about it.

“That shows how much it means to the fans and they can’t wait for it.

“As a player, it was a game I always looked forward to and this one will be no different.

“The group is tough but we’ll be ready for it and hopefully get through to the knockout stages like we did last season.”