Slump in form sees Dundee dismiss Rae – despite assurances his position was safe

Published on Tuesday 21 October 2008 02:38

DUNDEE last night sacked manager Alex Rae following the club's recent slump in form – only two weeks after assuring him his job was safe.

The former Rangers and Wolves midfielder was given the axe in the wake of Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Ross County, a result which saw Dundee slip to eighth in the First Division.

Rae, who became Dundee manager in May 2006, did not want to comment after hearing the news broken by chief executive Dave MacKinnon but is shocked to be relieved of his duties when the club are only six points off the top of the league.

The manager took training yesterday as normal and had no idea his future was being discussed until he received a call on his way home from work asking him to return to the stadium.

Upon his arrival back at Dens Park he met with MacKinnon and was told his contract, a 12-month rolling deal he signed last season, was being terminated.

It is understood the issue of compensation is yet to be agreed and both parties remain a significant way apart.

MacKinnon and chairman Bob Brannan, who was not present when Rae heard the news, chose not to comment last night.

Goalkeeper Rab Douglas, however, revealed his shock at hearing of the manager's demise. The former Scotland international said: "It's harsh so early in the season when all things are considered. I feel sorry for Alex because he's never had the chance to put his best team on the park. He's had so many injuries to contend with.

"It's entirely down to the players because we're honest enough to admit that we haven't been playing well enough to get the right results.

"There's certainly nobody at Dundee trying to cheat anybody but some of the performances just haven't been good enough.

"Alex is a hard-working, young manager who's trying his best to make his way in the game.

"We're only six points off the top of the table and it's not as though we can't make up that ground."

After taking the club to the brink of promotion last season, only losing out to Hamilton in the final fortnight, much was expected of Dundee this term but they have been unable to capture the same level of performance and recent weeks have seen significant fans' unrest.

However, in a bid to stave off criticism the players were asked to unfurl banners appealing for unity before the County game and Rae was given public backing from MacKinnon and Brannan only two weeks ago.

Rae has been hampered this season by the loss of influential players such as Kevin McDonald, Scott Robertson, Paul Dixon, Gavin Swankie and Milan Palenik in the summer with little finance available to replace them. He has also had to contend with a horrendous injury list, with up to seven first-team players ruled out with long-term problems, but even given those travails the level of performance in recent weeks has fallen way below standard.

Their problems reached a head in the game against County, their third home defeat of the campaign. The Dark Blues have not won in seven matches and are the lowest scorers in Scottish football with only six strikes so far this season.

Assistant manager Davie Farrell will take temporary charge of the side ahead of the weekend trip to Morton along with youth coaches Gordon Wallace and Paul Ritchie by his side.

Queen of the South manager Gordon Chisholm is the clear fans' choice for the job but it remains to be seen whether the ex-Dens captain, who won the First Division title as a player in 1992, would leave Dumfries and whether the Dark Blues could even afford the level of compensation required.

Former Dundee players Barry Smith, Ray Farningham, and ex-Hearts head coach Stevie Frail are alternative candidates.