Have to change arrived at Dens

we’d train every day and there were a few double sessions.

“They relied on doing the same thing rigidly over and over so you knew what you were getting and there was very little change.

“I have to say I learned a lot about working on shape and positional play.

“Previous managers had done shape but not to the extent the Bonettis worked on it.

“Training could be a bit off-thecuff sometimes. They were obviously new to coaching themselves and learning as they went.”

Inevitably, there were high-profile disagreements as foreign signings kept local boys out of the starting XI.

The Bonetti brothers’ volatile nature also led to fallouts behind the scenes but Smith focused on working hard in training and reaping the rewards.

“I always treat people as they treat me and the Bonettis treated me very well,” the ex-Evening Tele sports writer said.

“I’m not saying they did that with every player – there were definitely a few not treated as well as they should have been.

“I played with players I never expected to line up alongside at

Dundee. Georgi Nemsadze was wonderful, Claudio Caniggia was a top talent, but they also needed the Scottish guys like myself, Gav Rae, Steven Tweed and Willie Falconer to make the core of the team.

“I don’t think the foreign guys really understood Scottish football or knew what to expect.

“We all just got our heads down and knuckled down to work, I think the Bonettis appreciated that.

“They were good times and I’m sure the fans wouldn’t change seeing those players in dark blue even with what happened afterwards in administration.”

Ivano and Dario Bonetti’s Dundee team. Dario Bonetti and Tom Duthie (inset).