McCann keen to commit long-term

EXCLUSIVE: Interim boss set to stay on after positive start at Dens Park

Dundee interim boss Neil McCann is set to give the club’s fans the news they are hoping for and commit his long-term future to the Dens Park club, Courier Sport can reveal.

It has been a stunning start to the former Dark Blues, Rangers and Hearts winger’s tenure as manager.

Back-to-back away wins have lifted Dundee eight points clear of automatic relegation and four points above the play-off position.

The fans have rallied to the McCann cause and travelled in big numbers to both Motherwell and Kilmarnock. And a large crowd is expected at Dens for his first home game against Ross County on Saturday.

The players have all taken to McCann’s methods from day one and he has also made a big impression on the board and club staff.

McCann has responded with a straight bat to all questions about his plans once the season is over, and he took on the short-term firefighting post as Paul Hartley’s successor with an open mind.

The fear for Dundee fans was that, with Sky Sports keeping his job as their leading pundit for Scottish football open to him, the former Dunfermline assistant boss would opt for the security of his TV work over the high-risk world of football management.

However, Courier Sport understands that McCann has been bitten by the bug, wants to stay with Dundee and has started to assess his backroom staff moving forward.

Negotiations have not yet begun with John Nelms, but the chief executive would no doubt be thrilled if McCann confirms his intention to drop the interim part of his job title over the next couple of weeks.