Nelson thanks the fans as he leaves Dark Blues

Striker wishes club future success as he departs by mutual consent

Andrew Nelson has thanked the Dundee faithful after leaving the club by mutual consent.

The striker – who joined for an undisclosed fee from Sunderland in January 2019 – scored eight goals in 39 appearances for the Dark Blues.

Nelson, 22, was under contract until next summer.

He said: “Thank-you to everyone associated with Dundee. Your support from the first day I arrived was spectacular and I did my upmost to make sure nothing was ever left on the pitch.

“I wish the club nothing more than to be back in the Premiership where they belong. I wish the lads and the staff the very best for their future endeavours wherever that may be.

“But for now, time to look forward to the next part of the journey.”

In a statement, the Dee said: “Dundee Football Club can confirm that a deal has been agreed that will see Andrew Nelson leave the club by mutual consent.

“Andrew signed for the club in January of 2019. He opened his Dundee account with a winner at Tynecastle shortly after arriving and netted a further three times in his first season at Dens.

“He featured 25 times in 2019-20 scoring four times, including a double on the opening day of the Betfred Cup against Raith Rovers.

“We would like to thank Andrew for his efforts while at Dens and wish him all the best for the future”.

Nelson’s departure comes amid financial hardship at Dens sparked by the coronavirus shutdown and less than a month after captain Josh Meekings’ exit.

Earlier this week, the Dark Blues thanked the “high majority” of players and staff who accepted wage cuts.

After revealing a £500,000 loss nearly a month ago, Dundee had been in talks with players and staff over salary reductions of around 30%.

It is understood forward Kane Hemmings is the only member of the first-team squad yet to agree to a wage cut despite the threat of “clause 12” contract suspension, with reports suggesting both parties remain in talks about an agreement.

Meanwhile, manager James McPake reckons Dundee starlets Josh Mulligan and Luke Strachan will be ready to fight for a first-team berth following formative loan stints in League 2.

The Dens Park boss believes the talented teenagers will return to the club far more battle-hardened after very different experiences on loan.

Scotland youth international Mulligan played 11 times for Paul Hartley’s Cove Rangers and the 17-year-old ended the campaign as a title-winner. In contrast, 19-year-old Strachan joined Brechin in February and, although his stint at Glebe Park was fleeting, he got experience of being at a club fighting for its life at the bottom of the league.

They both want to kick on and push for regular football at Dundee this season and can draw inspiration from McPake’s willingness to regularly field Fin Robertson, 17, and give a debut to fellow kid Lyall Cameron.

McPake said: “Josh Mulligan went out and won a league title with Cove Rangers and Luke Strachan went out to Brechin and played proper football there.

“Luke will have experienced that pressure to battle at the bottom of the league and the pressure of fighting for survival.

“Josh didn’t play as often as he would have liked but even that is a learning curve. He’s seen how much of a challenge it is to fight for his place in a senior dressing room.”

The Dens Park manager added: “The standards required to get in a very good Cove side are sky-high and he’ll bring that back to Dundee.

“Those loan moves will prove invaluable to them as they both learn their trade.

“I’ve no doubt they’ll come back better players.”

Andrew Nelson after scoring against Blackpool in a preseason friendly last year. Below: Josh Mulligan and Luke Strachan have come back from loan stints raring to go.