Paul Hartley eyes top four after new Dundee deal

Paul Hartley has signed a new deal after leading Dundee into the top six of the top flight. Picture: SNS

The former Alloa manager led the club to the Scottish Championship title a few months after taking charge last year and edged them into the top half of the top flight this month thanks to a derby win over Dundee United.

A club statement read: “Paul has been with us for just over a year and the club has enjoyed enormous success during his time in charge.

“During his first few months at the helm Paul guided the team to the SPFL Championship title and just last weekend the club clinched a top six place in the SPFL Premiership; our first top-half finish in the top flight in 12 years.

“Paul’s hard work is a key reason we sit where we do today and we look forward to many more years of success under his guidance. We are already building for the future and planning for next season and beyond is well under way. The board of directors and Paul have a shared vision of where we want Dundee FC to be and the entire football club is delighted that Paul has put pen to paper on this extended deal.”

Hartley stepped up his preparations for next season on Thursday when he signed Alloa defender Daryll Meggatt on a pre-contract agreement. Hartley revealed his ambition was to take the club into the upper reaches of the Premiership.

“We’ve been speaking over the past six months,” the former Celtic and Scotland midfielder told his club’s official website. “It was a no-brainer for me. We are building for the future here, laying down the foundations and I’m delighted to be part of that. The vision is to try make the club strong, and my vision is to make the club a top-four side. That will take time, there is a lot of work to be done and we are still building the team. We’ve got a lot of unfinished business.”