CHAMPIONSHIP DUNDEE DERBY
EUAN McARTHUR
DUNDEE UNITED boss Robbie Neilson has confirmed in-demand teenager Scott Banks is leaving Tannadice.
Banks has rejected the Tayside club’s offer of a new long-term deal after bursting into the first team in style earlier this season.
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who has been the subject of interest from English cracks Crystal Palace, Southampton and Leeds United, is sure not to be short of admirers as he seeks to take his burgeoning talent elsewhere.
Neilson, whose Championship leaders hosts city rivals Dundee at Tannadice on Friday, said: “We offered him a good contract but he didn’t take it.
“So he will be able to sign for somebody on a precontract in January. We will just wait and see what comes of that.
“We are disappointed but I’m sure the kid will move on.”
Meanwhile, Neilson also revealed former Welsh Under-21 centre-back Troy Brown is on his way out of United after joining on a sixmonth deal in September.
Neilson added: “Troy has been great for us but I just feel that, with Paul Watson coming in and doing so well and Mark Connolly coming back, we have enough there.” Neilson’s table-toppers will go 20 points clear of Dundee with victory over the Dark Blues on Friday, and their manager admits he may still strengthen his squad further in the coming weeks.
He said: “I have a meeting today with Tony Asghar so maybe we will have one or perhaps two coming in.
“We would like to bring freshness to the squad.
“I think we need to add another attacker, I really do. It is important to do that. Possibly, we will also look at adding to the midfield. “When good players come up you have to be ready to react.”
EUAN McARTHUR
DEFIANT Dundee boss James McPake has hit back at Partick Thistle counterpart Ian McCall – and told him to keep his nose out of their business.
McPake reacted to McCall’s comments after their hardfought 1-0 win away to the lowly Jags at Firhill on Saturday.
McCall claimed McPake’s Dark Blues were “under pressure” and described Saturday as a “huge win for them”.
Now McPake, whose fourthplaced troops are gearing up
for Friday’s crunch derby clash with Dundee United at Tannadice, has suggested McCall should focus only on the fortunes of his second-bottom Championship club.
McPake said: “I was made aware of the comments on Sunday and I was surprised.
“I don’t see any real need for him to comment on what is going on at our club. I think we are in an industry where every single manager is under pressure so that’s what surprised me.
“He can say what he wants but it was a bit strange to hear him say how Dundee were under pressure – of course we are because we are a big club.
“He should just concentrate on his own team. They have their own issues being second bottom as a big club as well so it was surprising to hear him commenting on us.
“I’ve found out that win, lose or draw every manager is under pressure.”