Dundee manager Tony Docherty boosts his squad with three signings

Dundee manager Tony Docherty has boosted his squad with the arrival of three signings for the upcoming season.

Defender Clark Robertson has agreed a two-year deal, goalkeeper Jon McCracken has returned to the club on a permanent contract and striker Seb Palmer-Houlden has joined on a season-long loan from Bristol City.

Former Aberdeen player Robertson is back in Scottish football for the first time in nine years after spells with Blackpool, Rotherham, Portsmouth and most recently Israeli side MS Ashdod.

The move to Dens Park reunites the 30-year-old with manager Docherty, who was assistant to Derek McInnes when he started his career at Pittodrie.

“I’m buzzing to sign for the club and to be coming back to Scotland,” he told the Dundee website. “I’ve worked with the manager before at Aberdeen and when I spoke to him I was really excited about what he had to say.

“He’s played a big part in getting me here and hopefully I can repay that faith he has shown in me.

“I think Dundee is the perfect move for me at this stage in my career. I got experience over the past nine years playing in England and then abroad last season and hopefully I can use it.”

Goalkeeper McCracken has been handed the number one jersey after returning to Dundee following the expiry of his contract at Norwich.

The 24-year-old Scot had two separate spells on loan at Dens Park last season – either side of a stint at Accrington – and made 15 appearances in total for the Dark Blues as they finished sixth in the Premiership.

McCracken started the closing 11 matches of the campaign after ousting veteran Trevor Carson and now appears set to start next term as Docherty’s first-choice keeper.

“It’s great to be back,” he said. “At the end of the season, it didn’t feel like I was saying goodbye, we had already had initial talks about me coming back. And when I sat down and spoke to the manager about it my mind was made up. In the end, it was a fairly easy decision.”

Palmer-Houlden, 20, recently signed a new three-year deal at Bristol City until 2027 although he is yet to play a first-team game for his parent club. After loan spells at Yeovil and Newport in recent seasons, he is looking forward to playing in Scotland’s top flight.

“It’s a great move for me, the Scottish Premiership is a great league and when I heard that Dundee were interested I jumped at the opportunity,” said Palmer-Houlden.

“I developed a lot as a player last season at Newport County and I want to continue that this season at Dundee. I’m a high-intensity runner, I like to get in behind the defence and score goals and I hope that I will be able to play my part this season for the team.”