McCowan’s Celtic transfer pivotal moment for Docherty, Maloney set for Dundee job

The Celtic Star

·20 May 2025

McCowan’s Celtic transfer pivotal moment for Docherty, Maloney set for Dundee job

Former Celtic attacker Shaun Maloney is in line to replace Tony Docherty as Dundee manager after the former Kilmarnock and Aberdeen assistant boss was rather surprising sacked yesterday by the Dens Park club after achieving the goal of retaining Scottish Premiership status.

Brendan Rodger and Tony Docherty ahead of kick-off. Dens Park, Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

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Docherty kept Dundee in the Scottish Premiership

With St Johnstone’s relegation – ending a 15 year run in the top division – and Ross County taking the short plank into the play-offs against David Martindale’s Livingston, Docherty fought off both challengers to secure a tenth place finish after making the top six the season before.

That campaign of course was led by former Dundee captain Luke McCowan before he was sold to Celtic on the last day of the summer transfer window, leaving Docherty without his best player and with no real prospect of bringing in a replacement.

Luke McCowan celebrates. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Dundee FC Statement

Dundee FC confirmed the news via a statement posted on their official website yesterday which reads as follows:

Dundee Football Club can today confirm that manager Tony Docherty, Stuart Taylor, Alan Combe and Graeme Henderson have been relieved of their duties at the football club with immediate effect.

Tony was appointed manager of Dundee FC in May 2023 after the club was promoted to the Scottish Premiership and in his first season in charge guided the club to a top six finish in the league. Stuart was brought in as assistant manager to Tony in June 2023.

Alan has been with the club since 2021 as goalkeeping coach and Graeme joined last summer as head of performance.

Sunday’s result confirmed the club’s place in the Scottish Premiership for next season. However, this season the results of the team have not met the standards expected by the club. With the club finishing the season in tenth position, one place above the relegation play-off position, the club have taken the decision to relieve Tony of his duties.

The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Tony, Stuart, Alan and Graeme for all of the work they have put into the club during their time at Dundee FC. We wish them all the best for the future.

The club intends at this juncture to restructure the football department and the process to appoint a new management team begins immediately.

Shaun Maloney, Head Coach of Wigan Athletic looks on prior to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Mansfield Town and Wigan Athletic at Field Mill on January 14, 2025 in Mansfield. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

The Courier confirms former Celtic star is frontrunner for Dundee vacancy

Now according to a report in The Courier, former Celtic forward Shaun Maloney, who is a close friend of Gordon Strachan who in the Technical Director at Dundee, is a frontrunner for the surprise vacancy and is said to be keen on taking over the role at Dens Park. Maloney was close to getting the Dundee job back in 2022 but narrowly missed out at that time to Gary Bowyer.

Maloney, who won 47 caps for Scotland, had two spells at Celtic as a player and played for Aston Villa, Wigan and Hull City in England, while he also had a brief spell in the MLS with Chicago Fire.

Maloney has plenty of experience coaching at a high level

Shaun Maloney worked in coaching roles as Celtic and also with the Belgium national team before taking the Hibs job in December 2021 but that was short-lived and he was sacked after losing a Scottish Cup semi-final to city rivals Hearts.

Wigan Athletic manager Shaun Maloney looks on during the Sky Bet League One match between Wigan Athletic and Northampton Town at DW Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Wigan. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)

After retiring, he worked for both Celtic and Belgium as a coach, assisting Roberto Martinez with the star-studded Red Devils squad. He took on his first managerial role with Hibs back in December 2021, but lasted just four months at Easter Road before being dismissed following a 2-1 defeat to Edinburgh rivals Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Shaun Maloney in action in Seville. 21.05.2003 Photo imago/ColorsportShaun Maloney (Celtic Glasgow) Ricardo Costa (FC Porto)

After missing out on the Dens Park job shortly afterwards he turned to his old club Wigan where ws manager for just over two years before being sacked earlier this year.

Now Maloney could be back in Scottish football as the new manager of Dundee, where it seems the pressure will be on to deliver a top six finish.

17th April 2024 Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland Scottish Premiership Football, Dundee versus Rangers Dundee manager Tony Docherty hugs Luke McCowan at the end of the match. Photo ActionPlus – David Young

Tony Docherty incidentally would be a great fit for Kilmarnock where presumably Steven Naismith, the former Hearts manager, will be a contender. Naismith is of course a former Killie legend but Docherty certainly would be a decent choice for that role after Derek McInnes left to take the Hearts job.

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