TONY Docherty believes the interest in Dundee captain Luke McCowan shows just how much the Dens Park club have progressed in the past season – but admitted he will be relieved when the transfer window closes at the end of August.

Bolton Wanderers and Hibernian are both reported to have bids for the 26-year-old midfielder, who was named Dundee Player of the Year and Dundee Players’ Player of the Year at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, turned down in recent weeks.

Docherty, whose team take on Hearts in a William Hill Premiership match on their relaid pitch on Tayside on Saturday, feels the speculation surrounding his skipper’s future is an indication of how highly his players are now regarded. 

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“We had some really strong performers last year, Luke being one of them,” he said. “In this industry when you are doing well you attract suitors, and that’s what he is doing just now.

“But Luke is a Dundee player. He is a captain for a reason, he has real leadership qualities. The development in Luke since I came into this football club has been fantastic and that’s what I want to do, as a manager I have always said that.

“Year upon year it is about developing and improving and I think if you can do that with individual players as well as with the team as a unit that’s what I want to do. He is still a Dundee player until I hear any different.”

(Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) Docherty added:  “I have a really good relationship with Luke, a special relationship with Luke. As I say, when I came into the club we changed his position to get him more involved and he is thriving on the responsibility I have given him as well.

“But I enjoy working with all the players. I would not just single out Luke in that. I have a really good squad of players and they are really close knit, with a good spirit. Luke is part of that. We will continue to do that until I hear differently.

 “When the window closes I will get a few nights’ sleep. I think every manager wants that talk with players when they say, ‘Right, close the doors, this is us’. Until we get to that stage there is so much to-ing and fro-ing and trying to improve your squad.”

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Dundee had repeated problems with a waterlogged pitch at Dens Park last season, but Docherty, whose men drew 2-2 with their city rivals United at Tannadice in their opening Premiership fixture on Sunday, is impressed with the playing surface now.

“There’s no way that situation benefited our team,” he said. “Anyone who watched us would know we want to play on the best surface possible.

“I’ve got to really credit John [managing director Nelms), Tim (chairman Keyes] and the board for the amount of work they have done on the pitch.

“We have trained on it a couple of times now and it is outstanding. It’s a really, really good standard. You can tell from the players’ feedback that they are just desperate to get out there and play a game on it now.”

Tony Docherty was promoting Premier Sport’s live and exclusive coverage of Dundee v Hearts on Saturday. Premier Sports is available to stream from premiersports.com or via your TV provider on Sky, Virgin TV and Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription.