Dundee’s Richie Hart has revealed he is close to securing a move to Swedish club Ostersunds FK.
The midfielder has a year left to run on his contract at Dens but has been looking for another club since Dark Blues boss Gordon Chisholm told him he should find alternative employment.
Now Hart is confident he will have a new deal signed and sealed with Ostersunds who are managed by former Dunfermline, Hearts and Livingston player Lee Makel.
“I am going on holiday on Sunday and I hope to have it all tied up before I leave.
“I have not spoken directly to Lee Makel as my agent has been dealing with everything, but it looks like it will be a loan deal until January,” Hart revealed.
Obviously, it was disappointing when Gordon Chisholm told me I was not in his plans for next season, but I told my agent afterwards that my first option was to try for a foreign club.
“I had spoken to people such as Craig Brewster in the past about playing abroad and the great benefits it had on their careers.Culture”It is something I have always wanted to do. It will be a nice break from Scottish football and I am looking forward to sampling a different culture.
“It is an exciting opportunity at a club with excellent facilities and I am hoping to do well until January and then take it from there.”
More than a few eyebrows were raised when Chisholm revealed he had told Hart, Maros Klimpl and Bryan Deasley that, despite still being in contract at Dens, they would not be playing for the club next season.
Hart could have just continued picking up a wage packet at Dundee until his deal ran out however, he stressed that was never an option for him.
“To be honest, the manager’s decision was not as big a shock as other people might think.
“When a new boss comes in, he always wants to put his own stamp on things.
“We had a big squad last season and, after missing out on promotion to the SPL, it was always going to be trimmed.
“I had a feeling that I might be one of the players the manager did not want to keep.Intention”But it was never my intention just to sit still and wait until my contract ran out I simply would not have done that.
“At this stage of my career, I want to be playing and to have the opportunity to try something new.
“It is disappointing that my time at Dundee did not work out as well as I would have liked, but I do not have a problem with what happened I really enjoyed being at Dens.
“Dundee are a huge club and I am confident they will put in a big challenge to win promotion next season.”
Meanwhile, Dundee’s player of last season Jim Lauchlan could be on his way to Livingston.
The veteran central defender, who was released by the Dark Blues despite picking up 12 awards from supporters’ clubs, wants to remain full-time.
Going to the division two newcomers would allow Lauchlan to do that.