| Over the weekend, the Dark Blues and Wilkie thought his time at Dens Park was over after it appeared they had agreed on a severance deal he would be taking in preference to a wage cut.
That paved the way for the Scotland man to take up the offer of training facilities with Dundee United, where he has spent the last two days.
In a surprise Press briefing following last night’s CIS Insurance Cup defeat at the hands of Partick Thistle, though, chief executive Dave MacKinnon revealed the deal remained unsigned.
While that continues to be the case, Wilkie is still a Dundee player and has been told the only team he can train with is them.
And it has emerged resolving the matter is not simply a case of him signing the necessary forms that have been drawn up and are awaiting his signature at Dens Park.
The sticking point is possession of a Jeep that was given to him when he signed a new deal just prior to suffering a second career-threatening knee injury in April last year.
Since then, Wilkie has been under the impression the car was part of his signing-on fee and, therefore, his, but the Dundee view is that, while it was for his exclusive use, it remained their property.
And it was after the 26-year-old was informed that, as well having his money cut, he would be required to hand the vehicle back when he signed his amended contract, that a disillusioned Wilkie decided he wanted a fresh start elsewhere.
He then appeared to reach agreement with Dave MacKinnon, who announced on Saturday the player had effectively left the club. That’s now changed because Wilkie, believing the car is still his, has hung on to it.
While not referring directly to the Jeep row, in revealing he had ordered Wilkie back to Dens today, MacKinnon did concede there was a clause that would remain private and could be a sticking point when it came to the severance package finally being signed.
Despite that, and the obvious tension between at least some at Dens and the player, he felt the matter could be resolved by the end of today.
“I think we can give Lee the benefit of the doubt. He’s maybe been ill-advised or, indeed, maybe misinterpreted the situation and, hopefully, we can get it sorted,” he said.
“At the end of the day, there has been agreement in principle for him to compromise his contract and leave the club, but that’s not legally happened. If he signs it, then that would draw a line under it.”
While he has been eager for the row to remain behind closed doors, Wilkie has remained determined to keep what he believes is his and he may not be willing to sign any forms that require returning his car.
Before the route out was blocked, Dundee used some of the cash they thought was being freed up by his departure to sign experienced defender Greg Strong on a six-month contract.
The former Motherwell and Livingston man was fixed up just minutes before the SFA offices closed at 5 pm last night and that enabled him to face Partick.
With Danny Griffin joining other experienced pros Bobby Mann, Andy McLaren and Ludovic Roy on the injured list, his experience could prove vital.
Griffin suffered back spasms yesterday and, as well as missing out last night, is doubtful for Saturday’s trip to Hamilton. |
