New gaffer’s love for Dee impresses

WHEN Neil McCann was appointed Dundee interim boss, Kevin Holt expected a manager who knew the game.

What he didn’t realise was the passion his new boss has for the club where his career started.

Having starred for Hearts, Rangers, Southampton and Scotland as well as working as a Sky TV pundit, Holt reckoned McCann’s knowledge of the game would be extensive.

But for all the heights he reached with those clubs and his country, it also became clear the manager had never forgotten his roots at Dens Park.

“You can tell when he’s speaking the passion he’s got for the club. He’s not j ust here to try out what management’s like, he wants to do a good j ob for Dundee,” said the left-back.

“He wants to make an impact and he’s here to win games of football. His knowledge is good but what he’s drummed into us is that it’s all about winning games — that’s got to be the most important thing.”

And while eyebrows were raised when the Dark Blues opted for a man with no managerial experience to get them out of the relegation hole they’d dug for themselves, Holt suspects it might prove a masterstroke.

“It’s obvious from day one he’s not just been watching the games he’s commented on when working for Sky.

“As a player you never really think of what these guys are doing in their spare time but it’s clear the gaffer’s been looking at footage of matches and he’s known exactly what he’s coming into.

“He has an obvious idea of what’s been going wrong and he’s worked to put things right, pointed things out and it’s been a help. The boys have really taken to it.

“Going into Saturday at Motherwell, we were drilled about everything.

“It was maybe good to have someone who’s been watching the games on the telly and not from the dugout.”

Holt also admits the 3-2 win at Fir Park that saw McCann get off to the