Dundee Football Club can now confirm, having spoken to the player in question, that Paul McGowan will be leaving the club upon the end of his current contract this summer.

A bona fide Dark Blue legend, Paul served the club faithfully for the last nine years when he made 302 appearances for The Dee. A fans favourite, Gowser has captained the club, won the SPFL Championship and the SPFL Premiership play-offs, been part of a top six finish, won multiple Player of the Year awards and scored the winner in a derby to memorably knock Dundee United out of the League Cup: all this whilst racking up his triple century of outings, putting him into the top 20 of Dark Blue appearances.

Having won the League Cup with St Mirren in 2012/13, scoring against former club Celtic in the semi and winning the man of the match in the final, Dundee manager Paul Hartley brought him to Dens Park in the summer of 2014 upon the expiry of his contract in Paisley.

Playing primarily as a central midfielder, Paul became an influential player in the Dundee side and in his first season was part of the Dark Blue side to finish in the top six in their first season after promotion.

Paul scored his first goal for the club in that debut season, with an injury time winner against Partick Thistle on Valentine’s Day. In total, he would score 21 goals for the club and none were as memorable as his winner against Dundee United in the Betfred Cup in August 2017. Gowser’s celebrations live long in the memory as he sprinted the full length of the pitch from the Bobby Cox end to taunt the Arabs in the Shankly Stand, having also revelled in the Doon Derby celebrations the previous year.

In 2020, Paul’s popularity with the Dark Blue faithful was confirmed when he was voted as the Dundee FC Player of the Year and picked up the coveted Andrew De Vries Memorial Trophy. It was very well deserved and was a testament to not only his 2019/20 performances but also a reward for his consistency over the previous six years.

By then the season had been curtailed due to the lockdown restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic and Paul showed he was not just a leader on the park but off it when he was the first player to accept a pay cut due to the financial strain the lockdown was having on the club and the majority of players soon followed suit.

The following year McGowan was a key player as Dundee returned to the topflight by winning the two legged Premiership Play-Off Final against Kilmarnock and he would achieve promotion again this season with 14 appearances in the SPFL Championship winning campaign.

After injury halted his Dark Blue season in October, Paul opted to join former teammate, manager and friend James McPake on loan at Dunfermline until the end of the season and was part of their SPFL League One winning campaign, therefore picking up two winners medals in one season.

Now that Gowser’s Dundee contract has expired, his Dark Blue story is over and we want to put on record our thanks and gratitude to him for his efforts and service to the club over the last decade. 302 appearances at one club is a wonderful achievement in the modern game and there is every chance he might one day appear in the Dundee FC Hall of Fame – not that he is looking forward to that having a customary moan and saying, “Dinnae be bathering me wi’ a that nonsense when I retire!”.

We are sure he doesn’t mean it and we wish him well for the future and look forward to welcoming him back to the club anytime.

Paul McGowan said, “Despite leaving on loan earlier this year, this remains a very difficult message to write.

“After nine years with Dundee, I have left the club on a permanent basis at the end of my contract.

“The club has been a huge part of my life and my career. It will be a strange feeling to no longer be a Dundee player.

“I gave my all every time I pulled on the Dundee shirt and it has been an incredible honour to do so 302 times.

“From day one I was welcomed with open arms and I have met many friends for life, too many to mention by name. You all know who you are and I’m thankful for all the hard work that goes in behind the scenes at the club.

“I want to thank all the team mates I have had over the years as well as all the managers and coaches who I have worked under.

“Finally, I have to thank the fans. The backing the team and myself have received during my time at Dens has been incredible.

“Through good times and bad times, you have shown unbelievable support.

“We have had some unforgettable times together and I wish the club all the best for the future.”

Honours at Dundee:

SPFL Championship winners: 2022/23

SPFL Premiership Play-Off winners: 2020/21

Andrew De Vries Memorial Trophy for Dundee FC Player of the Year: 2019/20

Dundee FC Man of the Match Player of the Year: 2015/16, 2018/19

Billy Steel Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2014/15

Dark Blues Down Under Player of the Year: 2014/15

Strath Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2014/15

Tenerife Dark Blues Player of the Year 2014/15

Aberdeen Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2015/16

Barry Smith Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2015/16

Billy Steel Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2015/16

Dark Blues Down Under Player of the Year: 2015/16

Dundee Social Club Player of the Year: 2015/16

Ferry Branch Player of the Year: 2015/16

Forfar Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2015/16

Glasgow Dees Player of the Year: 2015/16

Legendary Bobby Cox DSC Player of the Year: 2015/16

Perth Dess 62 Player of the Year: 2015/16

Robert Douglas Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2015/16

Strath Bar Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2015/16

Alan Gilzean Blairgowrie DFCSC Player of the Year: 2016/17

Aberdeen Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2017/18

Alan Gilzean Blairgowrie DFCSC Player of the Year: 2017/18

Barry Smith Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2017/18

Big Rabbie D Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2017/18

Charlie Cooke Dark Blues Player of the Year 2017/18

Dundee FC Disabled SC Player of the Year: 2017/18

Dundee Social Club Player of the Year: 2017/18

Ellenbank Bar DSC Player of the Year 2017/18

Friends of Dundee FC Player of the Year 2017/18

Alan Gilzean Blairgowrie DFCSC Player of the Year: 2019/20

Barry Smith Dark Blues Player of the Year 2019/20

Charlie Cooke Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2019/20

Dee Club Player of the Year: 2019/20

Dees Down South Player of the Year: 2019/20

Friends of Dundee FC Player of the Year: 2019/20

GeorDees Player of the Year: 2019/20

Highland Dark Blues Player of the Year 2019/20

Legendary Bobby Cox DSC Player of the Year: 2019/20

Pat Liney Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2019/20

Perth Dees 62 Player of the Year: 2019/20

Barry Smith Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2020/21

Charlie Cooke Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2020/21

Perth Dees 62 Player of the Year: 2020/21

Senior Dark Blues Player of the Year: 2020/21

Appearances, Goals:

League:   218 + 27 subs, 15 goals

Scottish Cup:   14 + 2 subs

League Cup:   35, 6 goals

Challenge Cup: 6

Totals:    302, 21 goals

(Friendlies: 17 + 10 subs, 5 goals)