Scott Brown is next Dundee boss favourite as Celtic icon leads Maloney and Lennon in hot seat race

Tony Docherty was shown the door at Dens Park despite leading the club to Premiership survival

Scott Brown has been installed as the bookmakers’ favourite for the Dundee job after Tony Docherty was sacked.

The Ayr United boss immediately shot to the top of the betting after the news that the Dens Park club were on the hunt for a new manager.

Brown, who has previously been at Fleetwood, took Ayr United into the Championship play-offs before they fell short.

The former Celtic and Aberdeen captain is also close to Dundee’s technical director Gordon Strachan from their time together at Parkhead and with the Scotland national team.

Former Hibs boss Shaun Maloney is another who has been linked with the job. He is out of work after leaving Wigan and has previously turned down the Dens Park job.

Neil Lennon, who kept Dunfermline Athletic up, is also amongst the early bookmakers’ favourites and he also has a relationship with Strachan.

Ex-Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell and Aberdeen first-team coach Peter Leven could also come into the equation.

Dundee claim they have no-one lined up and chief executive John Nelms will start the process of appointing Docherty’s successor.

A Dundee statement confirmed: "The club intends at this juncture to restructure the football department and the process to appoint a new management team begins immediately."

Docherty was sacked less than 24 hours after he secured Dundee’s Premiership status.

The boss was summoned to a meeting on Monday morning where he, along with assistant Taylor, goalkeeping coach Alan Combe and head of performance Graeme Henderson, was informed his services were being dispensed with.

Docherty paid the price for a poor second season which only saw them safeguard their top-flight standing with their final day win over already-relegated St Johnstone, which saw them finish just one place above the relegation play-off, which Ross County now face.

A club statement read: ‘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.

‘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.’

Docherty lasted two seasons in the hot seat after he left the assistant manager’s role at Kilmarnock to become his own man.