DUNDEE OPEN CHALLENGE CUP DEFENCE AGAINST ALLOA

Dundee will open their defence of the MG Alba Challenge Cup against Alloa Athletic in the First Round at Dens Park. The match will take place on the 24th July.

MONTROSE TO VISIT DENS IN CIS CUP FIRST ROUND.

Dundee have been drawn at home in the first round of the CIS League Cup against Angus rivals Montrose. The game will take place on the 31st July.

DOMINIC SIGNS FOR THE DEES!

Former Arsenal, QPR and Morton defender Dominic Shimmin has joined the Dark Blues. The 22 year old has signed a two year deal at Dens and will officially be Gordon Chisholm's first permanent signing of his managerial career at Dens.
Speaking to DFCTV, Dominic was thrilled to be a Dee and was happy that the club matches his ambition to play at a higher level:
"I've been in Scotland two years and have played against Dundee, I've always been impressed with the set-up, the stadium, the amount of fans and they have a big history-it looks like we'll be pushing for the title next season and I want to be part of that."
Gordon Chisholm was delighted to have snapped the 6ft plus defender up.
"I think he'll bring a lot of positives to the team, the position he plays, centre back, is an important part of the team, he's got a good pedigree - started at Arsenal" Gordon Chisholm told Jacqui "I've seen the boy a lot in the last couple of years and I've never seen anyone get the better of him. He's very powerful, very strong and very quick - I'm delighted to have him on board"

To view Shimmins full interview with DFCTV, go to http://www.thedees.co.uk/.



Photo: (c) http://www.thedees.co.uk/

New forum!

I have decided to start up my own forum for all Dundee fans to savour and enjoy.

http://www.darkbluefirst.freeforums.org/

Feel free to have a look and post your opinion on all things Dundee FC.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN FOR DUNDEE FC?

Well, this time last year, Dundee fans were dreaming. We had just installed a new member of the board, Mr Calum Melville, who promised investment and a buisness plan initiated into the club. He duly kept his side of the bargain by sanctioning the transfers of Leigh Griffiths and Gary Harkins for a combined transfer total of £265,000 or there abouts. The club also went on a signing spree, with Jocky Scott the then manager almost given carte blanche as to who he wanted to sign. Dundee found themselves in a position that they hadn't found themselves in since the days of the Bonetti brothers, actually spending a six figure sum on individual players. For a First Division club, it was unheard of. Clubs in this competitive league have a very tight budget to work from and up until last season, Dundee were following the same pattern. But, now Dundee were splashing the cash and were also causing a stir in Scottish football. Almost so as they were nicknamed "the Manchester City of the North" for the frenzy money spending. As the season tickets number rose, the squad numbers swelled and hopes were raised for a real genuine push for promotion. So did the story end happily?
No, the answer is no. Having won the Alba Challenge Cup in November, Dundee went on an impressive 14 game unbeaten run and found themselves a good distance at the top of the league, albeit with other clubs having games in hand. The January transfer window came and went with Dundee signing two loanees, Andrew Shinnie and Ben Hutchinson. A defeat at home to Airdrie United in early January saw the start of a terrible run of results in which Dundee picked up only 21 points out of a possible 50 on offer. Results fluctuated and it was a 3-0 away defeat, ironically against Airdrie United on the 20th March which saw the removal of Jocky Scott as Dundee boss. In came Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds. Their task was to get Dundee over the finishing line and yes, Dundee were in a great position, 4 points clear at the top. However the new manager effect didn't come into play and Dundee dropped 4 points in Chisholm's first two games in charge, which allowed second place Inverness CT leapfrog Dundee by a single point. A defeat at Dunfermline saw Inverness extend their lead to 4 points and from that point on, there wasn't going to be a recovery from Dundee. Inverness were on an incredible unbeaten run since November and they were forging away at the top of the table. Dundee could only look on and wonder what if? Inverness CT clinched the title without having to kick a ball. Dundee had to win at Starks Park on April 21st to keep any faint title hopes alive. Alas, they fell to a solitary goal from Raith Rovers. Cue celebrations in the Highland Capital that evening. Inverness were returning to the SPL after one season in the First Division and Dundee had handed them the title giftwrapped.
Now as we comprehend the failure of last seasons efforts, attention has been drawn to the ultimate success of which the Tangerine side of the city has enjoyed. Finishing third in the SPL and winning the Scottish Cup for only their second time, the Dundee United fans were having a real laugh, they were laughing at their old rivals, Dundee FC. And who could blame them? No-one.
Who is at fault for the collapse of our title hopes? Was Melville right to invest in a club like Dundee? What does the future hold for Dundee FC? These are three key questions that shouldn't be ignored.
The out-going Chairman, Bob Brannan, has issued a rallying call for all Dark Blue fans to unite and get behind the team, support them both financially and emotionally otherwise the alternative would be grave for Dundee, almost terminal for the city's oldest professional football club. The budget is reduced this window and the squad has been trimmed. Mr Melville has pledged to help our cause for at least another year and we can only thank him for his marvellous contribution to this great club.
Promotion is a must this season and if we don't win promotion, then Dundee fans will have the right to ask: "When are we ever going to get out of this league?"

DEE4LIFE ISSUE STATEMENT

In response to Bob Brannan's open letter to Dundee supporters, Dee4Life have also issued a statement.

http://www.dundeefc.co.uk/news_detail.asp?ID=3253



Source: http://www.thedees.co.uk/

DEE CHAIRMAN ISSUES OPEN LETTER TO SUPPORTERS.

Out-going Dundee Chairman Bob Brannan has issued an open letter to the Dark Blue supporters.

http://www.dundeefc.co.uk/news_detail.asp?ID=3252



Source: http://www.thedees.co.uk/

SKELTON SET TO SIGN FOR DUNDEE!

Gavin Skelton, the brother of Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton, is set to join Dundee after being released by Kilmarnock according to the Evening Telegraph. Talks are understood to have taken place between Gavin and Chisholm and it is hoped a deal is not too far away. The 29 year old midfielder would bring a wealth of experience to the Dundee midfield after spells with Gretna and Kilmarnock.


Source: http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2010/05/19/story15087527t0.shtm


photo (c) http://www.teamtalk.com/

FOX FINDS NEW HOME AT DENS PARK!

Former Celtic goalkeeper Scott Fox has signed a pre-contract deal with Dundee. The 22 year old last played for Queen of the South on amatuer terms and one of the reasons why he has signed a pre-contract deal is because once he reaches his 23rd birthday, Celtic would have no claim for money if he signed professional terms with Dundee.






photo (c) http://www.bbc.co.uk/

Transfer Rumours

Dundee have been heavily linked with Dunfermline Athletic striker, David Graham according to the Evening Telegraph. Gordon Chisholm is apparently an admirer and hopes to snatch him away from East End Park by offering Pat Clarke and Sean Higgins as bait.



Graham (in yellow) is contracted to the Pars until 2012.



photo (c) http://www.dafc.co.uk/

Scottish First Division 2010/11 table

1) Cowdenbeath
2) DUNDEE
3) Dunfermline Athletic
4) Falkirk
5) Greenock Morton
6) Queen of the South
7) Partick Thistle
8) Raith Rovers
9) Ross County
10) Stirling Albion

That above is the table for the start of season 2010/11.

Season Tickets 2010/11 now on sale!

Dundee have announced that their early bird season ticket scheme will launch on Monday 17th May. This early offer scheme will run until Sunday 13th June at 5pm.
Also, the board of directors have also added an incentive for season 2011/12 by selling the season tickets then at the same prices as this year.

Early Bird ticket prices:

Adult: £260

Senior citizen/student/U-16: £130

U-12: £40 (Includes membership to the Junior Dees)


For more information, go to:

http://www.thedees.co.uk/

Queen of the South rebuff Dundee's advances.

Dundee have been rebuffed in their efforts for new players apparently. Queen of the South manager has admitted Dundee have been interested in Bob Harris and Paul Burns but that they were quite happy to stay at Palmerston this season.


http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-sport/dumfries-football/queen-of-south-fc/2010/05/12/queens-squad-under-attack-from-dundee-coin-51311-26422501/

Ian Bodie

Ian Bodie has retired from the Dundee board. We would like to wish Ian all the best for the future and would like to thank him for his service as director at Dens.

Transfer rumour update

TRANSFERS IN

Gary Irvine from St Johnstone has now been linked with a move to Dundee.








photo (c) http://www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/

Bob Brannan to resign as Dundee Chairman

The price of failure at Dundee has resulted in the Chairman, Bob Brannan, falling on his own sword in the wake of Dundee's failed promotion bid. The former Rangers Chief Executive will continue to carry on as a director and will continue in the role as Chairman until a suitable successor is appointed.

Transfer talk.

OUTS:

Tony Bullock has signed a pre-contract agreement with Livingston and will join on a two year player/coach deal.
Derek Soutar has signed a deal with Cypriot side APEP Pitseilia which will last two years.

Dark Blue Forever would like to wish both Tony and Derek all the best in for the future with their new clubs.



TRANSFER RUMOURS:

Andy Graham from Stirling Albion has been strongly linked with Dundee FC. The 26 year old's contract expires in the summer and he is attracting a lot of attention, including SPL teams.
Michael Gardyne (Ross County) Derek Holmes (Queen of the South) Bob Harris (Queen of the South) have all been linked with a potential move to Dens Park this summer.

Season 2009/10 review................ultimate disappointment.

Season 2009/10 was supposed to be the season for us, we bought players that were of real quality and there was a general buzz around Dens Park and the fans. Promotion was in our sights, as long as we knuckled down and worked hard-the First Division is a notoriously hard division in which to gain promotion. But now as I write this blog, Dundee finished the season in 2nd place, 9 points behind winners Inverness CT. So, what went wrong? Let's have a look back at the season that was 2009/10.


01/08/09: Dundee 5-0 Stranraer, League Cup First Round:  An accomplished start to the season with a rout of Stranraer at Dens Park. Leigh Griffiths managed to bag his first two goals for the Dark Blues.

08/08/09 Dundee 1-0 Morton: Dundee start their league campaign with a narrow 1-0 win against Greenock Morton.

15/08/09: Raith Rovers 2-2 Dundee: Dundee started the match well with Harkins converting an early penalty to give the Dark Blues the lead, Raith though hit back with two goals before a late Colin McMenamin goal managed to salvage a point for the Dark Blues in Kirkcaldy.

18/08/09: Cowdenbeath 0-3 Dundee: Emphatic win for the Dark Blues as Leigh Griffiths and Mickael Antoine Curier score the goals for Dundee in the Challenge Cup.

22/08/09: Dundee 2-2 ICT: An entertaining match ending in a draw between the two promotion favourites.

25/08/09: Forfar 2-4 Dundee, League Cup second round: Dundee narrowly squeeze through to the next round in a very difficult match at Station Park.

to be continued..............................

Chisholm looks to the future as he seeks to bring in new faces.

Gordon Chisholm admits that change is needed at Dens if the Dark Blues are wanting to succeed next season in gaining promotion to the SPL. On Monday, he told 15 players that they were no longer required. However today he was a bit more philisophical in his attitude to new players arriving. Speaking to the Evening Telegraph he said:
"“Obviously, we’ve spoken to a couple of boys about coming here next season, but it’s early days — the Premier League hasn’t finished yet — so I’ll take my time"
“I’d like to have everyone in for the start of pre-season training on June 25, but I’ll be selective and, if it takes a bit longer, then so be

Also, the players that are staying at the club have undergone fitness tests at Dundee University and have all been given a schedule in order to keep themselves fit over the next eight weeks or so.
 
Source http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/ 
 

Chis wields the axe over 15 players!

Gordon Chisholm had the hard task today in informing 15 members of the playing staff that they are no longer required at Dens Park. Derek Soutar, Tony Bullock, Eddie Malone, Jim Lauchlan, David Cowan, Gary MacKenzie, Colin Cameron, Darren Young and Bob Malcolm are all out of contract and were informed they would not be getting new ones. Loanees Ryan O'Leary, Andrew Shinnie and Ben Hutchinson have been told they can go back to their parent clubs, whilst Richie Hart, Maros Klimpl, Brian Kerr, Chris Casement and Brian Deasley have been told they can all find new clubs. Speaking to DFC Online, Gordon Chisholm admitted it was a difficult job in telling the players:
"It's been a difficult day, there are good pros amongst the guys who I've had to let go, but this place needs change if we are going to get to where we want to be."
"It's really not a nice thing to do and I'd like to thank them for their efforts in Dundee's colours."

Jim Lauchlan, Player of the Year.

Congratulations to Jim Lauchlan, who was voted  Dundee player of the year.

We would like to wish him all the best for the future and that he
manages to get a new club.






photo (c) http://www.thedees.co.uk/

Inverness 1-0 Dundee

ICT finished the season with a win over Dundee on the day the Caley Jags recieved the First Division trophy at the Caledonian Stadium. An Adam Rooney effort was the only goal of the game as the Highlanders enjoyed a promotion party at the expense of second place Dundee.

Teams:

ICT: Esson, Bulvitis, Tokely, Munro, Golabek, Cox, Duncan, Ross (Eagle 73), Hayes (Morrison 85), Rooney, Odhiambo (Sanchez 62).



Subs Not Used: Allison, McBain
 
Goal: Rooney 28
 
 
 
DUNDEE:Soutar, Hart, Forsyth, Benedictis, McKeown, O'Leary, Shinnie (Hutchinson 67), Kerr (Young 74), Harkins, McMenamin, Higgins (Clarke 67).


Subs Not Used: Geddes, McHale
 
Attendance 6,031