The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Gartland lands Dark Blues role
DUNDEE: Assistant boss shares McCann’s values and principles for team
Neil McCann’s reshaping at Dens continued yesterday as Graham Gartland was confirmed as his assistant boss at Dundee.
The manager said: “I’m delighted to have Graham on board. He is someone I have known for a number of years and will be a great addition to club.
“He knows Scottish football, has sound opinions on the game, but most importantly, he is a man who shares the same values and principles that I aim to instil into the team.”
McCann, who also brought in Blair Doughty as the club’s fitness coach, admitted he cannot wait to start working with his first two signings for the Dark Blues, Scott Allan and Roarie Deacon.
He added: “I’ve tried to identify players who are at a certain age and have a mind-set and desire to go to prove to people how good they are.”
As first revealed in The Courier last week, Graham Gartland is Dundee boss Neil McCann’s new assistant.
The former St Johnstone defender, who started his career at Dundee United, has most recently been coaching with Shamrock Rovers in his Irish homeland.
The 33-year-old is a Uefa ‘A’ licence holder and Gartland is someone McCann knows well.
The manager said: “I’m delighted to have Graham on board. He is someone I have known for a number of years and will be a great addition to club.
“He knows Scottish football, has sound opinions on the game, but most importantly, he is a man who shares the same values and principles that I aim to instil into the team.”
McCann has further bolstered his backroom staff with the appointment of Blair Doughty as the club’s fitness coach.
The manager added: “Blair was with the club when I took over in a voluntary capacity and really impressed me.
“The role of fitness coach has become an important part of football and Blair will bring a fresh approach and real enthusiasm to that role. I’m really pleased to be able to bring him in on a full-time capacity.”
Gartland’s arrival will no doubt signal the departure of Gerry McCabe who was assistant to former boss Paul Hartley and for McCann when he was interim boss.
However, Dundee have yet to confirm McCabe has left the club.
McCann meanwhile admits both his new signings perfectly fit the identikit profile he has set for any player joining the club.
The Dens manager made the first additions to his squad on Wednesday bringing in Scott Allan on loan from Celtic and Roarie Deacon who was with English side Sutton United last season.
The duo have already shown McCann they have the hunger to succeed that he is looking for and he cannot wait to begin working with them.
The manager said: “Recruitment is crucial this year. Managers won’t get them all right but what I’ve tried to do is identify players who are at a certain age and have a mind-set and desire to go to prove to people how good they are.
“Both guys that we have signed are in that bracket. Scott is a quality player and there were a lot of teams after him.
“You could see the impact he had at Hibs – he was sensational. Both of the Old Firm were chasing him and Celtic won the race.
“For whatever reason, it hasn’t quite happened for him but you don’t lose that ability. From what I’ve seen in my meetings with Scott, he has a real drive, hunger and enthusiasm to go and do a very good job for us.
“So I was delighted when he agreed to come. There is definitely hunger in Scott and Roarie.”
Birmingham boss Harry Redknapp has also revealed that the Dark Blues made an attempt to bring Greg Stewart back to the City of Discovery but could not afford the player’s wages.
The former Dens favourite was snapped up by the English side last summer but has struggled to make an impact at St Andrew’s.
Dundee, along with other Scottish clubs, are keen to bring the 27-year-old back north but finances have proved to
be the stumbling block.
Redknapp said: “Clubs have asked for Greg – Aberdeen, Motherwell and Dundee.
“It’s only a loan for the season that I’ve been asked about.
“But Greg’s wages at Birmingham are too high for the Scottish clubs, even the percentage that we’d be looking for.
“So for now he’s not going anywhere, although I’m sure there are clubs in England who would take Greg for a year on his current wages.”
However, Redknapp admitted that Stewart’s future may still lie at Birmingham.
The veteran manager added: “I liked what I saw of Greg last season, although I was only in the job for a couple of weeks.
“He was on the bench for me and he is a great lad with good ability. I’ll look at him closely during pre-season then we’ll see what happens.”
Dundee have announced details of another pre-season friendly.
McCann’s men already had a game against St Mirren to look forward to in Paisley on July 4 and they will now travel to play Brechin at Glebe Park on Tuesday July 11, with a 7.45pm kick-off.