Former Hibs bosses in direct competition for Dundee job - with either one 'likely' to be appointed

Former Hibs managers Jack Ross and Shaun Maloney are reportedly in direct competition for the Dundee job.

They are believed to be the two remaining candidates to replace Mark McGhee after Dens Park chiefs whittled down their shortlist to the final two, with one of the ex-Easter Road duo now ‘likely’ to be appointed, according to the Daily Record.

McGhee took over from James McPake in February but was axed following the club's relegation to the Championship after winning just one of his 14 matches in charge.

Dundee technical director Gordon Strachan and managing director John Nelms are leading the search for his replacement and will hold final talks with Maloney and Ross before deciding who to appoint.

Ross has been out of work since being sacked by Hibs in December on the eve of the Premier Sports Cup final following a run of one league win in nine matches.

Maloney took over at Hibs but was dispensed with after just four months in charge after his failure to secure a top six spot left the Easter Road directors unconvinced that they had made the right appointment.

He remains a highly-respected coach following his spell as assistant manager to Roberto Martinez with the Belgian national side and he also has close links with Strachan who he played under at Celtic and Scotland.

Maloney branded Ross "disrespectful" shortly after taking his place at Easter Road over an interview his predecessor conducted where he revealed he had spoken to Martin Boyle after his departure about an impending move to Saudi Arabia.