Dundee footballer accused of baseball bat assault

A TOP footballer is to appear in court accused of battering a man with a baseball bat “to the danger of his life”.

The case is to be held at Hamilton Sheriff Court. Picture: TSPL

Declan Gallagher - who won the Championship with Dundee FC last season - is alleged to have attacked a man while acting with another man at a hotel in Blantyre last year.

His case is due to call at Hamilton Sheriff Court next week.

Gallagher - who has rejected a new contract at Dundee despite their promotion to the Premiership - is alleged to have assaulted Steven Findlay at Parkville Hotel, in the South Lanarkshire town’s Glasgow Road, on April 21 last year.

It is alleged that he and Anthony Murray repeatedly punched and kicked Steven Findlay on the head and body, knocked him to the ground and struck him on the head with a baseball bat or similar implement to his severe injury and danger of life.

A second charge alleges that Murray assaulted a woman at the same venue on the previous day.

It is understood a wedding anniversary party was taking place at the venue.

Gallagher, 23, of Silver Birch Drive, Broughty Ferry, has not yet made a plea in the case.

Police confirmed they has been alerted to a disturbance at the hotel and bosses at the venue said they had provided CCTV footage to cops.

Gallagher - a former Celtic trainee - joined Dundee from Clyde in 2012.

He was an integral part of their league winning team last season - playing 40 times and scoring four goals.

However, his contract expired yesterday and he has rejected three new offers from the club.