McCann is Dee key to our season

DARREN O’DEA insists Neil McCann will prove Dundee’s most important signing of the season.

McCann performed a U-turn late on Thursday night to climb into the Dens Park hotseat after initially rejecting the chance to manage the club on a permanent basis.

And O’Dea admits it was a pleasant surprise to everybody.

The Dundee skipper said: “I spoke to Neil on Monday and he was explaining to me why he didn’t take the job.

“I understood his reasons. I thought the gaffer was going to be in charge then he said he wasn’t and, being an older player in the team, naturally I was concerned.

“So the U-turn came out of nowhere. I’ve been speaking to people at the club and it came as a surprise to everyone.

“Neil could be Dundee’s best signing of the summer – the most important anyway.

“He’d acted like

FERRY ENTERTAINING

DARREN O’DEA reckons former Celtic team-mate Simon Ferry secretly wants to be a chat show host like Alan Carr.

Peterhead star Ferry has landed a dream role interviewing Scottish footballers for new somebody who really wanted it.

“It’s not a case of him going to work now as he will just pick up from where he let off. He has maybe lost two days.

“I’m just delighted it’s all done now.”

McCann took charge of Dundee for five games at the end of last season after Paul Hartley’s exit and helped steer them to Premiership safety.

The ex-Rangers and Scotland wideman won two, drew one and lost two during his reign.

O’Dea added: “Neil’s biggest quality was his intensity. He wanted to win all the time and that included training, too.

“That competitiveness rubbed off on the players.

“In three or four weeks, I learned a fair bit from him. I’m looking forward to learning more.

“The gaffer knows exactly what we need, so I’m quietly confident we can have a good season.” website open-goal.co.uk. And O’Dea said: “Simon is more like Alan Carr than Michael Parkinson!

“Anyone who has played with him or even met him will tell you, he always peppers you with daft questions.”