Scott Brown now leading candidate for vacant Dundee job

Immediately after the Dens Park club announced their search for a new manager, the Ayr United boss quickly became the frontrunner in the betting markets.

Brown, with prior experience at Fleetwood Town, guided Ayr United to the Championship play-offs, though they ultimately fell short of promotion following a 2-0 home defeat to Partick Thistle.

The Gordon Strachan factor 

Having previously played under the stewardship of Dundee’s technical director Gordon Strachan at Celtic Park and for the Scotland national team, the ex-Hoops skipper shares a close connection with him.

Shaun Maloney was the early front-runner 

Former Celtic midfielder Shaun Maloney is also among those rumoured for the position; currently unemployed following his departure from Wigan, he has previously declined the opportunity to manage at Dens Park.

Neil Lennon also linked with Dens Park job 

Neil Lennon, credited with securing Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic’s survival, is another early contender and shares a close connection with Strachan.

Former Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell and Aberdeen’s first-team coach Peter Leven are also potential candidates being considered.

Dundee maintain that no candidates have been finalised yet, with chief executive John Nelms set to begin the search for Docherty’s replacement.

A Dundee FC statement stated: “The club intends at this juncture to restructure the football department and the process to appoint a new management team begins immediately.”

Despite ensuring Dundee’s Premiership safety at the weekend, Docherty was dismissed within a day of keeping the Dee’s up. On Monday morning, Docherty, alongside assistant Stuart Taylor, goalkeeping coach Alan Combe, and head of performance Graeme Henderson, was called to a meeting where they were told their contracts had been terminated.

Docherty was held accountable for a disappointing second season, where his side narrowly avoided the relegation playoffs by securing a last-day victory against already relegated St Johnstone. Ross County now face Livingston in a two-legged playoff.

Kilmarnock could very well be interested in bringing Docherty back to the club now that Derek McInnes has left to take over at Hearts.

Conor Spence

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