The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Brown successor’s career
Paul Hartley took the reins at Dens Park in February 2014, replacing John “Bomber” Brown who was sacked two days before with the club first in the Scottish Championship but without a win in three games.
Hartley narrowly guided them to promotion on the final day of the 2014/15 season with a 2-1 home win over Dumbarton.
The 40-year-old’s first season back in the Scottish Premiership was a successful one with the club securing sixth spot in the top half of the table.
The following season, the club slipped into the bottom half with a finish of 8th, and the team’s dreadful start to the 2016/17 season saw criticism grow.
He managed to hold on until April, when his fate was ultimately sealed by a 2-0 home defeat to Hamilton that left the club sitting 11th in the table and in the relegation play-off zone.
The club released a statement on the Monday after the game announcing his sacking saying it believed a change was needed to ensure Premiership survival.
Neil McCann was the man selected to take over as interim boss and went on to keep the club in the top flight with two wins, two losses and a draw.
In a bizarre U-turn, after initially leaving the club at the end of the season, McCann was then appointed manager on a full-time basis just days later.