DARREN O’DEE
Ex-Celt has travelled world in search of second Paradise only to find he’s...
Brendan Rodgers, then in his first managerial job at Reading, snapped up a 21-year- old O’Dea on loan – for his experience. He said: “I grew up at Celtic. First I was a fan then I played – I knew how the club worked. “I was a proper Celtic player. Everything I did I wanted to be for the benefit of Celtic and that’s what I feel here now. Hopefully I will be here for a few more years. “I feel like I want to leave my mark here. With James being injured I’m the oldest player. I talk about the manager setting a benchmark but I look at myself and I want to set a benchmark for these players. “I know I set the right example and I hope they follow that. But I have to keep reminding people I’m not old. “When Brendan signed me on loan for Reading he said I was brought in as ‘experience’ – I was 21. “I went to Toronto and was cal led a veteran – I was 24. Maybe it’s the way I carry myself but I’ve always been thought of as an experienced player even when I wasn’t.
“The ‘older’ thing is just a mindset though. I rang Kenny Miller up recently and asked him and the first thing he said was age is just a number – if you think you’re old you will be.
“So I’ll keep working the way I’ve always done – as hard as I possibly can.
“Brendan was fantastic even then. I wish I’d worked with him when I was a bit older.
“He was immaculate, the way he trained. I speak to lads there now, I know how it is – it’s perfect the way they train.
“There’s a real method to everything. And he’s also a fantastic guy, someone you want to work for. It’s no surprise how well he has done.
“But Paul sets similar standards here – they have the same work ethic. Just because you’re not at Celtic, just because you don’t have their facilities and their budget, doesn’t mean you don’t work as hard.”
Dee boss Hartley was recognised for it last week with the Premiership Manager of the Month award for February. And O’Dea added: “He works way beyond office hours. I’ve worked with the 20s and I’m captain so I talk to him a lot and see what he does. “It’s incredible. He is the top man and if he is working that hard it’s only fair he expects the same from the rest of us. It’s nice to see him get the award and he deserves it.” Despite an unbeaten February – that included a first Dens Park win over Rangers in 25 years – firing them into the top six, backto-back defeats since have seen Dundee slide closer to the dogfight to avoid the bottom two places. O’Dea said: “There’s a points’ target in our heads for top six and that ’s al l we are concentrating on. “Of course beating the best team in Scotland and being the first to do it would be brilliant for the club and us but it’s another three points and three points we desperately need.”