Neil McCann departs Dundee

Neil McCann has left Dundee following their poor start to the Ladbrokes Premiership season.

Reports in the previous 24 hours had claimed there were plans to bring in an experienced assistant to help the 44-year-old former television pundit, who took charge 18 months ago.

The club stated that attempts to support their manager had fallen through and the timing – after a week’s international break – suggests a disagreement over the way forward for the coaching set-up lies behind McCann’s departure.

A club statement read: “The club can confirm that manager Neil McCann has left the club.

“We have explored alternative options to support the management staff recently but unfortunately these did not come to fruition.

“Assistant manager Graham Gartland has been relieved from his role.”

Dundee are bottom of the Premiership table after losing seven of their first eight games. They also suffered home defeats to Championship sides Dunfermline and Ayr in the Betfred Cup.

McCann initially took charge on an interim basis, steering Dundee away from relegation danger in the final five matches of the 2016-17 season.

The Tayside club finished ninth last term but some summer signings have struggled to make a significant impact this season.

McCann’s final game in charge was a 2-1 home defeat by Kilmarnock, the winner coming courtesy of a penalty which cost visiting winger Jordan Jones a two-match ban for diving.

Dundee have made no announcement on who will take caretaker charge ahead of their Premiership clash with Livingston on Saturday.

Recent Livi manager Kenny Miller is their most experienced player but they also have former Airdrie manager Jimmy Boyle as reserve-team coach and head of their youth academy, while former skipper James McPake is under-18s coach.

McCann is the third Premiership boss to lose his job already this season following Miller and Alan Stubbs at St Mirren.