Gary Harkins has left Dundee by mutual consent to join Championship side Ayr United on a two-year deal.
The 31-year-old had been frozen out at Dens and told he could find another club by boss Paul Hartley, who confirmed on Thursday that: “He won’t play while I am manager here”.
The Dark Blues confirmed this morning that the fans’ favourite had left Dundee and, shortly after, Ayr announced he had signed for them as a player-coach, working under his former Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall at Somerset Park.
The manager said: “Gary is a player I know very well. I took him to Partick Thistle where he became a really talented player.
“I would love to have kept him however due to finances we had to sell him to Dundee.
“There are very few players in Scottish football who have the talent Gary Harkins has.
“He has been doing his coaching badges and is currently working on his A licence so comes in as a player coach.
“He isn’t coming here to see out his career, at 31 he should be at his peak and he is really up for the challenge.”
Harkins added: “I have played for him before and know what he has to offer.
“I am also really looking forward to being able to do some coaching.
“The Championship is a great league this year, it will be tough but we have some really good players here so I am looking forward to it.
“I have played at Somerset Park a few times, it’s a great surface and the fans create a great atmosphere.
“Normally I get pelters so hopefully it’s different now!”
Harkins’ departure comes as another of Dundee’s big names, Greg Stewart, heads to Birmingham City for a medical ahead of an expected £500,000 move.
