Dundee must change the vibe with ‘exciting’ coach

DUNDEE fans being unhappy is nothing new.

And it’s hardly surprising. If Dees were sitting here today chuffed with how things went last season, it wouldn’t say much for them as supporters.

Their team have just been relegated – of course they’re angry.

I doubt even John Nelms would have been caught out by the fan survey that suggested a big majority aren’t happy with how the club is being run.

Fans have been raising similar concerns for months.

I also doubt he’ll be too shocked by the survey’s suggestion that a large number have no plans to buy a season ticket for next season’s tilt at the Championship.

Some sort of drop-off is inevitable when a club goes down a division.

But that’s not to say that Dundee’s chief executive can safely ignore this latest round of fan feedback.

In fact, he REALLY needs to pay attention to it.

Fans are asking for engagement – and I think John owes them that much at the very least.

I reckon regular communication would go quite a long way towards bringing fair-minded supporters back onside.

But even before that could be arranged, Nelms, along with Gordon Strachan, have it in their power to considerably boost the mood amongst fans.

The pair have been speaking to candidates for the vacant head coach role at Dens Park. If they can conclude that process in the coming day or two, then make a quick, exciting announcement, supporters could get a big lift from it.

“Exciting” is the key word, however. With Strachan taking the reins as director of football, the club is putting a brand new strategy in place for the future.

It looks to me that, given Strachan’s vast experience in the game, there’s a great opportunity for Dundee to bring in a young, hungry coach to work beneath him – and inspire players and fans alike. Appointing a young coach is no guarantee of success, but neither is appointing an experienced one, as Dundee fans are only too aware of.

The age profile of managers and head coaches is definitely falling.

And given Strachan’s presence, it feels to me like another senior figure is unlikely to be the right fit.

A young, up-and-coming appointment this week could capture the imagination of Dundee fans.

It would give the majority, who just want to enjoy watching their football team, something positive to focus on between now and the start of next season.

Will it solve the problem of Dundee fans being unhappy with how their club is being run? Not completely.

Will it convince people to buy season tickets? Not everybody.

But it will bring some people around.

From there, bringing more back onside is simply a case of the club being willing to communicate.

That should not be too much to ask.

Dundee chief executive John Nelms needs to engage with fans to get them onside.