Richards to leave United after rejecting new deal

Dave Richards will depart Tannadice after two seasons.

Goalkeeper Dave Richards will leave Dundee United after rejecting a new deal with the club.

The smiling Welshman has been United’s No. 2 for the past two seasons and has been called upon at crucial moments to put on the gloves.

Richards made 19 appearances in United’s 25/26 campaign, replacing error-prone Yevhenii Kucherenko and stepping in again when Ashley Maynard-Brewer’s season ended prematurely due to injury.

United offered Richards a contract extension to secure his services next season.

However, Richards has now rejected that offer to explore other options, which reportedly includes interest from Aberdeen.

Former Tannadice shotstopper Jack Walton will return as United’s No. 1 next season.

A move that was months in the making, Walton has penned a three-year deal to provide some much-need stability between the sticks.

United retain the services of Academy graduate Ruairidh Adams, however it is likely that the 21-year-old keeper will go back out on loan next season.

Meanwhile Ashley Maynard-Brewer was released after United opted not to take up the two-year option on his deal.

Signing at the end of January, Maynard-Brewer replaced Kucherenko as United’s No. 1 before a dislocated shoulder cut his season short in April.

While Kucherenko initially looked like a lively option, his mistakes proved too costly, setting the unfortunate record of being the only United goalkeeper to score three own goals in a single season.

He was shipped off to the Greek Super League side in January, joining Panetolikos FC.

However, the 26-year-old finished his campaign on a high, being named the league’s goalkeeper in the league’s team of the season.