Θα μπορούσε κάποιος να θεωρήσει ότι αυτή η απουσία είναι αποτελέσμα της μακράς περιόδου διακοπών, αλλά η αλήθεια βρίσκεται στο γεγονός ότι οι επαγγελματικές υποχρεώσεις δεν μας επέτρεψαν να είμαστε συνεπείς στα καθηκοντά μας. Σε μια προσπάθεια να ανακεφαλαιώσουμε τις αλλαγές στο club μας, ζητήσαμε τη βοήθεια του φίλου μας Steven Reid, ο οποίος μας ετοίμασε μια σύνοψη των ποδοσφαιριστών που ήρθαν και που έφυγαν από την Dundee FC. Οι περιγραφές του είναι ακριβείς και πλήρεις, δίνοντας το αγωνιστικό στίγμα της νέας Dundee, της Dundee μετά την περίοδο της ελεγχόμενης διαχείρισης. Οι παίκτες αυτοί καλούνται να συνεχίσουν την αγωνιστική άνοδο της ομάδας μας την περσινή χρονιά και να την οδηγήσουν στα σαλόνια της Scottish Premier League. Οι ευχές μας είναι μαζί τους.
Jake Hyde may well be a new signing for Dundee, however that’s not to say that the striker is new to the club. During the turmoil of administration, a transfer embargo and the 25 point deduction that was imposed on the club last season, Jake played two games as a trialist for Dundee, scoring three goals in the process. With the club unable to officially sign new players, Jake trained with Dundee, before signing with Junior team Lochee United. With his registration then owned by a non-professional Scottish club, Jake was able to turn out for Dundee with Lochee’s agreement - a deal which was then replicated by eventual 1st Division League Champions Dunfermline who Jake also played for twice before the season ended. Born in England, Jake Hyde made his professional league debut with Barnet, although he had previously been on the books of Swindon Town, who had put him out on loan to Weymouth twice. Leaving Barnet in the summer of 2010, Jake signed for Hayes before also playing for Yeading United, although that move didn’t last long either, with Jake heading North to join up with Dundee.
Graham Bayne
Born in 1979, striker Graham Bayne is also known to the Dundee support, having begun his football career at Dens Park. Joining Dundee in 1996, Graham made 16 first team appearances for the club between then and 2001, when he was loaned out by manager Ivano Bonetti who had built a team of foreign talent, to Raith Rovers, before making a permanent switch to Arbroath. Having impressed at his new club, Graham moved onto 1st Division team Ross County, scoring 11 times in 54 games over two seasons. Graham’s physical style caught the eye of Ross County’s Highland neighbours Inverness Caledonian Thistle, with whom Graham played 119 times in the SPL, before being sold to 1st Division Dunfermline in 2008. Graham’s time on the park with Dunfermline was a success however a persistent and career threatening injury led to him leaving the club through mutual consent two years after he’d joined. Graham then spent the best part of two years out of football, before returning to Dundee last season as a trialist , although he finished the season back at Dunfermline, initially again as a trialist, helping them win the 1st Division and promotion. During his trial time with Dundee and Dunfermline Graham actually declined to play for either club when they played against each other, stating it would be unfair on the club he decided to play against. Graham’s short contract wasn’t renewed by Dunfermline, so he has returned to Dundee for what is in effect his third period with the club.
Steven Milne
Dubbed by the Dundee support as “Savo”, Steven Milne is another player who is well known to Dundee, having also started his career with the club. Signing in 1997, Savo struggled to break into the first team, making only two appearances by 1999. For the 99/00 season Steven was sent to Forfar Athletic on loan, where he scored an impressive 16 goals in 35 appearances, returning to Dundee a stronger and more confident player. That confidence remained as “Savo” scored 25 goals in 117 appearances for the club between 2000 and 2004. With Dundee struggling to come out of their first period of administration, Steven decided to move to Plymouth Argyle, rather than stay with Dundee on significantly reduced wages. However his time in England was blighted by injury and he failed to make a full appearance for the club, although he did feature as a substitute on twelve occasions, failing to find the net. Released at the end of the season, Steven joined St. Johnstone in 2005 and re-found the scoring touch with 50 goals in 126 games for the Perth club. Leaving Saints at the end of the 2010/11 season, “Savo” spent last season with Ross County, before being the third player to reacquaint himself with Dens Park, joining Graham Bayne and Jake Hyde as returning Dark Blues.
Ross Chisholm
A 23 year old, left footed central midfielder, Ross Chisholm started his career with Scottish Premier League side Hibernian, making over 40 appearances in the SPL with the Edinburgh club, before being released at the end of the 2008/09 season. Ross then found it difficult to settle, moving first to Irish League outfit Shamrock Rovers, then English League Two side Darlington. Along with thirteen other players, Ross was released by Darlington at the end of the 2009/10 season when the club were relegated. Moving back to Scotland, Ross joined 3rd Division Arbroath at the start of last season, proving to be a pivotal player in the club winning promotion and the championship, meaning the team lifted their first trophy in Arbroath’s 133 year history. Having watched Ross seven times during that championship season Dundee manager Barry Smith wasted no time in making him one of the first additions to his squad for upcoming season.
Ryan Conroy
Joining Celtic in 2005 Ryan Conroy worked his way up through the club’s youth system, eventually making two first team appearances, as well as representing Scotland at Under 20 and Under 21 levels at left back before being loaned out first to Partick Thistle and then Queen of the South last season. Ryan played at left midfield whilst on loan at both Scottish 1st Division clubs, scoring three times for QotS, although he was freed from Celtic at the end of last season. The 24 year old signed for Dundee early in the close season and hopes to lessen the impact of the departure of last season’s young sensation Craig Forsyth leaving the club.
Jamie McCluskey
Starting out at Hibernian in 2003, versatile wide man and auxiliary forward, Jamie McCluskey is already a man of many clubs. After playing only 19 games in four seasons with the Edinburgh club, Jamie moved on to St Johnstone where he spent the next two years making only 5 appearances. Next up was Welsh, English League team Wrexham where Jamie spent the 2008-09 and 09-10 seasons. Troubled with injury for most of his career, Jamie’s time at Wrexham proved no better, with him managing to turn out 21 times. Heading back to Scotland with St Mirren, Jamie played three times for the Paisley club before being loaned out to Division Three outfit Clyde, where he racked up 9 appearances and scored his first professional goal. Freed from St Mirren at the end of last season, Jamie now aged 23 signed a one year deal with Dundee after impressing in pre-season friendlies against Southport and East Fife.
Neil McGregor
The second player to be signed up after illustrating his versatility pre-season for Dundee is Neil McGregor. Capable of playing in a variety of midfield roles and at centre back, McGregor has spent the majority of is football career with Clyde, playing 84 games and scoring 6 goals between 2005 and 2009, although he started his career in 2002 with Kilmarnock, leaving for Clyde without ever playing for his first club. Moving on to Dunfermline in 2009, McGregor helped the Fife team to promotion from the 1st Division last season, although he was freed at the end of last season, signing up for Dundee just before the season started.
Players Out
Gary Harkins
Beginning his career as a centre back in 2003 at Blackburn Rovers, Scotsman Gary Harkins left the club in 2006 without turning out for the first team - although he was loaned out to Huddersfield Town, Bury and Blackpool, the latter of which he scored his first professional goal for, during that time. Gary spent the 2006-07 season with Grimsby after being freed by his first club, although a season later he was on his way North to join up with Partick Thistle. The move proved a good one for Gary, as he was moved into midfield, which was a far more natural fit for a player who is extremely comfortable on the ball, distributes it magnificently and has a keen eye for goal. Scoring 16 goals in his 71 appearances for Thistle, the clubs supporters were outraged when he was sold to fellow 1st Division side Dundee for £150,000 prior to the start of the 2009-10 season. In his 76 games for Dundee, Gary scored an impressive 21 goals from midfield including some stunning free-kicks and individual goals. Seen as a talismanic figure during the dark days of administration Gary led the club as a captain should , inspiring those around him and scoring vital goals. When the club slipped into administration, the man appointed to lead Dundee - Bryan Jackson - seeing him as one of the clubs biggest assets, tried to sell Gary. Manager Barry Smith persuaded the administrator to keep him, which proved key in Dundee avoiding relegation last season. However at that time Gary agreed to take a wage cut in return for a gentleman’s agreement that if an SPL club came in for him, Dundee wouldn’t stand in his way, therefore when Kilmarnock expressed interest in Gary, Dundee honoured the agreement and Gary left with the club’s and fan’s best wishes.
Sean Higgins
Between 2002 and 2009 striker Sean Higgins played 173 times for his first club Ross County, scoring an impressive 47 goals during that time. The hard working, bustling frontman then made the switch to Dundee, forming a good partnership with youngster Leigh Griffiths. Taking on the “provider” role for Griffiths to score the majority of the goals Sean still chalked up 18 of his own in his 52 games for Dundee, including seven once Griffiths had left for Wolverhampton Wanderers, playing a large part in Dundee’s 1st Division survival last season. Having helped the club maintain their division status, Sean took the decision to have a crack at the SPL with goal shy St Johnstone and ironically one of his first games for the Perth club was a pre-season friendly against Dundee at Dens Park.
Craig Forsyth
The son of former Dundee stalwart Stewart Forsyth, Craig joined the Dark Blues as a youth in 2006, featuring sparingly at left back, before a short loan spell at Montrose in 2008 and a full season on loan at Arbroath in 2008-09. That season at Arbroath ignited Craig’s career, seeing him return to Dundee a much stronger player both mentally and physically. Flourishing during the 2009-10 season Craig regularly featured at left midfield, creating numerous goals and chipping in with a few himself, culminating with the winning strike in the victorious three goal Challenge Cup Final comeback against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Continuing to grow in ability and confidence last season, Craig was a prominent player in the fight against relegation, becoming one of the teams most consistent and important performers. That impressive form and goal scoring earned the 22 year old a well deserved move to English Championship outfit Watford for the upcoming season. In total Craig made 59 appearances for Dundee scoring on 10 occasions.
Alan Tulleth & Gary Bartlett
Youngsters Alan Tulleth and Gary Bartlett turned out for Dundee in their hour of need last season during administration, helping the club to gain vital points in the bid for survival. Unfortunately with the squad budget for the forthcoming season remaining extremely tight, manager Barry Smith took the tough decision to release both players. Unfortunately at this stage neither player has found a new club.
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Τα πνευματικά δικαιώματα των φωτογραφιών ανήκουν στις ομάδες των παικτών (Dundee FC, Kilmarnock FC, St. Johnstone FC, Watford FC) από τους δικτυακούς τόπους των οποίων τις αντλήσαμε. Επίσης η φωτογραφία του Gary Bartlett είναι του Jacqui Robertson (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dundeefcofficial/4866921335/) και η φωτογραφία του Jamie McCluskey είναι από την The Courier (http://www.thecourier.co.uk/Sport/Football/article/16158/high-hopes-for-dundee-fc-signing-jamie-mccluskey.html)
