Nephew of former Leeds United and Aston Villa boss David, the 22-year-old had an eight-game loan spell at Dens towards the end of last season.

He did well, but not so well that he could help the Dark Blues to promotion or earn himself a new contract in the SPL with permanent employers Kilmarnock.

Since the end of the campaign, he’s held talks with manager Gordon Chisholm about a deal for next term, but it’s understood Dundee have been left staggered by his demands.

He asked for a guaranteed four-figure-a-week wage, plus appearance money of several hundred pounds — win or lose. While that would not have made him the highest-paid player, it would have put him on almost double what the average first-team squad player earns.

And seeing as he was being invited to come and challenge for a place in the team, he has been told thanks, but no thanks.

Now he is understood to be headed for talks with Ross County, who needed to replace Dunfermline-bound Dundonian Alex Keddie.

If the Scottish Cup finalists want to pay him that kind of money, Dundee’s attitude is ‘good luck to them’.

Should they also knock back his demands, the door is still open for him at Dens, but only for sensible negotiations.

And that means a lot less than £1500 a week for a player who has made just 40 starts in five years as a senior pro.

Meanwhile, another potential signing target, Gavin Skelton, has signed a deal for Hamilton Accies.

“The down side of Andy doing so well for us is that he’s left a huge hole — and it’s up to me to find a suitable replacement,” said Houstie.

He’s not ruling out using a Garry Kenneth-Darren Dods central defensive partnership in the year that lies ahead, but knows even if there is no problem in terms of quality with these two, when it comes to quantity he’ll certainly need more cover.

“I’m more than happy to have big Kenneth and Dods, but, if you look at the situation as it stands right now, you see why we have to add more bodies.

“Darren’s had a cartilage operation and it’s touch-and-go whether or not he’s going to be fit, so that leaves just Garry and young Craig Hill for the centre of the defence.

“Craig did well when he came into the team a couple of times near the end of the season, but, as good a prospect as he is, I’d reckon he’s a couple of years away from pushing for regular inclusion in the starting line-up.

“That leaves us too short and it’s why my efforts to add players will concentrate on that area.”

Likewise, as good a job as Sean Dillon did up to and including the Scottish Cup Final when he switched sides to act as emergency cover for broken metatarsal victim Paul Dixon, high up on the Houstie shopping-list is another specialist left- back.

“The first thing I want is Paul Dixon back 100% — and playing the way he was for us before he broke his foot,” added Houstie.

“If I get that, I’ll be more than happy because he had a great season.

“But, even when he is fit, I would like someone else in the squad pushing him for his place — because we haven’t had that since Danny Grainger went to join St Johnstone.

“And, right now, we’re not exactly sure when Dicker will be fit.

“His scan at the start of the week of the final showed the bone in his foot was still broken, but the good news is he does not need an op.

“It will heal in time, but it’s one of those we’ll just have to monitor.”