NEW BOY FACTFILE: STEVEN MILNE.

'Savo' back in Dark Blue/



'Savo' returns to Dens after a seven year period away from the Dees. He started his professional career with the Dees in 1997 aged 17. He was at Dundee for seven years and in that spell he made 98 appearances for the club and scored 23 goals. He spen the 1999/2000 season on loan at Forfar and in that spell he played 35 games for the Angus side and scored 16 goals. Savo left Dundee in 2004 to join Plymouth Argyle. That proved to be a bit of a disastrous move for Milne as he only played a dozen or so games for the Pilgrims before leaving the club in 2005, although a major injury had contributed too. He moved back to Scotland in 2005 when St Johnstone offered him a deal.  He would be there for he next six years and in that time, he would make over 120 appearances, scoring 38 goals in the process. He also picked up a First Division winners medal with the Perth side in 2009.Admittedly, he could have had more appearances and goals to his name if it hadn't been for niggling injuries that beset him in his spell in Perth.
December 2010 saw Milne leave Perth and he headed north to Dingwall where he signed a short term deal with Ross County. He made around 13 appearances for the Victoria Park side, scoring one goal. When his contract expired at the end of last season, he decided to leave Ross County. He then re-joined Dundee in June 2011 and is now in his second spell at Dens. We wish Savo all the best at Dundee and are glad that he is back home again.


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

NEW BOY FACTFILE: ROSS CHISHOLM

Ross checking out his new surroundings.

23 year old Ross Chisholm began his professional career with Edinburgh side Hibernian between 2007 and 2009. In that time, he made 46 appearances for the Hibees. However, his time at the Leith side soured when John Hughes took over as manager in 2009 and Ross didn't have regular opportunities to play for the Hibees. Instead, he was allowed to leave Easter Road for pastures new and he decided to join Irish outfit, Shamrock Rovers in August 2009. He made 12 appearances for the club and scored his only goal for them in an FAI Cup match against Sporting Fingal.
2010 a new year, and a new club for the young man. He joined Darlington in March 2010 where he only made three appearances for the then League Two side. He was released along with 13 other players at the end of the season following the team's relegation from League Two to the Conference.
October 2010 saw Chisholm sign a deal with Scottish Third Division side Arbroath. His season at Gayfield proved to be a successful one, in which he helped the team win their first ever bit of silverware by securing the Third Division title. He made 21 appearances for Paul Sheerin's side and scored 2 goals along the way.

June 2011 saw him leave Arbroath and he joined Dundee FC on a one year deal. We are all looking forward to seeing him in action next season for the Dees and we would like to welcome him to Dens Park.


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

AT LEAST ONE MORE PLAYER TO ARRIVE AT DENS?

Barry Smith has intimated that he would like to bring at least one more player in this summer to help bolster his squad. Speaking to The Courier he said he ideally would like more than one more in but it's upto the budget to see what he can do.

"I definitely want to bring one more player in. I'd actually probably want more than that but I know I need one more at least.
"We're at 17 just now, but that includes a couple of younger ones. It's a small squad. Ideally I would like a first-team squad of 18."
 "We'll be looking at every avenue — whether it's bringing in someone on loan or making a permanent signing.
"I've got people in mind but it's just a case of waiting for things to happen."
 "Clubs will hold on until they know what squad they've got before they decide who goes out on loan, so that would probably have to wait until the start of the season. Again, we've got options there."

One possible player that is being linked with a return to Dens on loan is Leigh Griffiths but Barry was quick to rule that out straight away. He told The Courier.
"I think he would go to a club down south. I don't think we could afford to bring him up here on loan anyway."
 "He's now a Premier League player and I would imagine he's on a very good wage, which we can't afford."

Barry went on to describe pre-season training was going well and he was pleased with the rate of fitness from the players.


Source: http://www.thecourier.co.uk/Sport/Football/article/15241/barry-smith-concedes-dundee-fc-favourite-leigh-griffiths-is-unlikely-to-make-dens-return.html

CHISHOLM SIGNS ON AT DENS!

Ross Chisholm is the latest Dundee new boy.

Dundee have completed the signing of former Hibernian and Arbroath midfielder Ross Chisholm. The 23 year old joins Dundee after spending last season with Arbroath and has signed a one year deal with Dundee.

We would like to welcome Ross to the club and hopefully does well with the Dark Blues.


photo (c) www.thedees.co.uk

GOODBYE FOZZY!

Forsyth Championship bound.

Dundee FC have today confirmed that Craig Forsyth has left the club and has signed a deal with Championship side Watford, after successfully completing his medical and the neccessary paperwork. Dundee will recieve compensation due to Fozzy as result of his development at Dundee FC.

Speaking to the Dundee FC website, Harry was sad to see Fozzy go but wished him all the best.

"Whilst we are disappointed to see Craig leave the Club we are delighted that he is progressing his career and wish him all the very best. We have negotiated a fee with Watford FC far in excess of anything we could have hoped for had Craig moved to another Scottish club and in this instance are delighted with the deal. We would also like to thank Watford FC for their conduct throughout and wish them all the very best for next season.”

“Craig has been at Dens Park for ten years and has become part of the fabric around the place. He is a credit to himself and his family and there really isn’t anyone I’d rather see succeed in the game at the highest level. We firmly believe that Craig will go on and become a Scottish international player and that one day in the not too distant future we can see him in the Dark Blue of his country. He will long be remembered at Dens Park for his contribution last season and as with the other players who have moved on he will always get a very warm welcome here.”

Dark Blue Forever would like to wish Craig all the best at his new club and also to say thank you for his incredible service and the part he played in helping this club survive in the First Division.

photo (c) http://www.thedees.co.uk/
Source:http://www.dundeefc.co.uk/home/news_detail.asp?newsid=1717

HARKINS DEPARTS FOR KILLIE

Dundee Captain Gary Harkins has left the club to join Kilmarnock FC for an undisclosed fee. The former Partick Thistle midfielder joined the Dark Blues in 2009 for approximately £150,000 and helped keep the club in the First Division last season after the sanctions of 25 points deduction and transfer embargo was placed upon the club. Harry MacLean, Dundee Chief Executive spoke to the Dundee website.

"Unfortunately Gary has decided to join Kilmarnock as a result of an agreement entered into when the club went into administration that he could join a SPL club this summer. We had hoped that Gary would stay and had prepared budgets accordingly.

"While disappointed that we haven't, as hoped, managed to persuade him to stay we fully understand his desire to play at as high a level as possible.

Harry went on to explain some of the background behind Harkins' departure "In the simplest of terms, the Administrator wanted to release Gary (and Sparky) in October when we went into Admin. After lengthy disussion with Bryan Jackson we managed to keep Gary (and Sparky) to see if we could sell either or both. In both their cases they had joined an 'ambitious' club with the intention of playing SPL football sooner rather than later.

"We sold Sparky to Wolves but in Gary's case we agreed that if he had not been sold he could move on in the Summer if that's what Gary wanted to do. In some respects this was a gamble to try and avoid relegation by holding on to our better players.

"When Gary indicated he'd like to join Kilmarnock we decided to honour our agreement with Gary provided we could reach some sort of agreement, which we have.

"This is not an ideal situation but we needed to look at it in the historical context.

"As our captain in the 'Deefiant' season Gary played an integral part in the club's survival, we'd like to thank him for his efforts and to wish him good luck and success in his new career at Killie.

"He'll always be welcome at Dens Park."

It is a tremendous blow to lose a player of Gary's quality but we would like to wish him all the best in his future career and thank him for the wonderful memories in his two year stint at Dens Park.



Source: http://www.dundeefc.co.uk/news_detail.asp?h=HARKINS-LEAVES&newsid=1715

TRIPLE SIGNING BOOST FOR THE DEES.



Savo, Jake and Ryan in the new Dundee home kit.



Dundee have confirmed the signing of Jake Hyde, Steven Milne and Ryan Conroy. They have all penned one year deals with the club.

31 year old Steven "Savo" Milne is no stranger to the Dark Blues as this will be his second spell at the club. He left in 2004 to pursue a career down south to join Plymouth Argyle but ultimately it didn't work out and he returned to Scotland in 2005 and joined Perth side St Johnstone. He was at St Johnstone for six years and in that spell he made over 120 appearances for the club, with more than 50 goals to his name. In December 2010, Steven was told that he could look for a new club and in January 2011, he joined Ross County in a deal which would last until the end of the season. He made 13 appearances and scored one goal and he was offered a new deal with the Dingwall side but Savo turned it down. And so the story sees him back at the club he started his professional career with and once again teams up with Graham Bayne, a collegue from his previous spell at Dundee.

20 year old  striker Jake Hyde also returns to Dens for a second spell. Although on a permanent deal this time, he joined the Dark Blues in March 2011 on a trial period and scored three goals in two games. That spurred Dunfermline into action and they signed him as an amatuer on a short term deal until the end of the season.
He was released from the First Division title winners this summer and re-joins the Dark Blues for a tilt at the title.

24 year old midfielder Ryan Conroy joins the Dark Blues after being released from Celtic. Last season, he had loan spells at Partick Thistle and Queen of the South. He only ever made two appearances for Celtic before being shipped out on loan in 2010. He joins Dundee as a midfielder who can play at left back.



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

2011/12 FIXTURES ANNOUNCED.

Dundee will face Partick Thistle at Firhill in the curtain raiser of the 2011/12 First Division campaign on August 6th. Dundee's first home game will be against newly promoted Ayr United on the 13th August.

The festive period sees Dundee at Dens against Morton on Boxing Day, while on January 2nd, the Dark Blues head across the Tay to face Raith Rovers.

For a full listing of the 2011/12 fixtures go to:

http://www.dundeefc.co.uk/home/news_detail.asp?newsid=1710

"SAVO" TO RETURN TO DENS.

Dundee FC look set to re-sign former Dundee striker Steven Milne on a one year deal. The 31 year old has just recently been released from Ross County after signing for the Dingwall side in January.

Also looking set to sign a deal with the Dees is Ryan Conroy. The former Celtic player has recently had spells with Queen of the South and Partick Thistle and looks set to be a potential replacement for Craig Forsyth who looks as if he will be leaving for pastures new.

PRE-SEASON FIXTURES ANNOUNCED.

Dundee FC have announced their pre-season schedule for this summer.

Thursday 7th July: Turiff United v Dundee: 19.30 kick off,
Saturday 9th July: Fortmatine United v Dundee: 15.00 kick off
Wednesday 13th July: Dundee v St Johnstone: 19.30 kick off
Saturday 16th/Sunday 17th July: Tournament at New Bayview, East Fife FC.
Wednesday 20th July: Forfar v Dundee: kick off 19.30

DUNDEE FACE ARBROATH IN RAMSDEN CUP

Dundee will face Arbroath at Gayfield in the First Round of the newly named Ramsdens Cup (former Alba Challenge Cup) The tie will be played on Saturday 23rd July, 3pm kick off.

JAKE RETURNS TO DENS.

A familiar 'new' face has signed up for Dundee on a one year deal. Jake Hyde, who was at Dens last season for two games as a trialist and scored 3 goals, apparently has decided to sign up for the cause at Dens after being released by Dunfermline Athletic at the end of last season. More to follow.

LOCKY AND GARY SIGN ON

Matt Lockwood and Gary Irvine have both signed new one year deals with Dundee FC. We are delighted that they are staying as they was speculation of interest for both players from SPL clubs.

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



IRVINE SET TO SIGN NEW DEAL.

Dundee defender Gary Irvine looks set to sign a new one year deal with the club next week. He tweeted on Twitter saying:
"Think it's time to sign for the Dee's again! Show me the dotted line"


Matt Lockwood is currently understood to be signing next week too.

A TRIP THROUGH WEST FOR DUNDEE IN LEAGUE CUP OPENER

Dundee have been drawn away to Dumbarton in the First Round of the Scottish Communities League Cup. It will be played on Saturday 31st July, 3pm kick off.

All ties:

Queen of the South v Stranraer
Annan Athletic v Dunfermline Athletic
Partick Thistle v Berwick Rangers
Dumbarton v Dundee
Brechin City v Clyde
Montrose v Raith Rovers
Livingston v Arbroath
Albion Rovers v Falkirk
Forfar Athletic v Peterhead
Alloa Athletic v Greenock Morton
Cowdenbeath v Stenhousemuir
Airdrie United v Stirling Albion
East Fife v Elgin City
East Stirlingshire v Ayr United
Ross County v Queens Park