Defender Lauchlan was out of contract at Dens Park

Dundee have released nine players - including player of the year Jim Lauchlan - and told four others they are free to find new clubs.

It follows the club's failure to win Division One and promotion.

Tony Bullock, Derek Soutar, Eddie Malone, Gary MacKenzie, David Cowan, Colin Cameron, Darren Young, Bob Malcolm and Lauchlan are released.

Ritchie Hart, Maros Klimpl, Chris Casement and Bryan Deasley have been told they are no longer wanted.

Should those four leave over the summer, manager Gordon Chisholm will be minus 16 players - half his present squad - with on-loan Ryan O'Leary, Andrew Shinnie and Ben Hutchinson returning to their parent clubs.

Dundee had started the season as favourites, having outspent most Scottish Premier League clubs in building their squad, and had led for much of the season before a late dip in form allowed resurgent Inverness Caledonian Thistle to win promotion.

There are good pros amongst the guys who I've had to let go, but this place needs change Dundee manager Gordon Chisholm

Chisholm took charge in March after Dundee sacked Jocky Scott following four games without a win, although they were still top of the table at that stage.

Dundee went on to win three of their nine games under Chisholm and finished second, 12 points adrift of Caley Thistle.

And the new manager has stated that his preference is to reduce the size of the squad but has also already targeted new players for next season.

"It's been a difficult day," Chisholm told Dundee's website. "There are good pros amongst the guys who I've had to let go, but this place needs change if we are going to get to where we want to be.

"It's really not a nice thing to do and I'd like to thank them for their efforts in Dundee's colours.

"The SPL season hasn't finished yet and there will be a lot of guys available over the summer.

"We're not going to be rushed and we'll look at it in the weeks ahead."

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