The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Sacked: Dens board pulls plug on McCann era as hunt begins for replacement.
DUNDEE: McCann sacked after shocking start to the season
Neil McCann has lost his job as Dundee manager.
Speculation had been building over the last few days that the club were keen for their rookie boss to bring in an experienced coach to bolster his backroom team as the Dark Blues fought to climb off the bottom of the Premiership table.
In the words of the statement released last night confirming McCann’s departure, those attempts have “not come to fruition”.
There were no comments from McCann but it is understood that he was not keen on the idea, leading to the parting of the ways. His assistant, Graham Gartland, has also left.
The search for a replacement now begins. Although Dundee have made a shocking start to the season – they lost seven games in a row, six of them in the league – they are only one point off 11th place St Mirren and in touch with several other sides. They will play Livingston on
Saturday.
Dundee have made some leftfield managerial appointments in recent years, McCann being one and John Brown another.
They have an experienced former boss on the staff in Jimmy Boyle and James McPake and Darren O’Dea both have the look of managers in waiting.
And, ironically, the man who started out the season in charge of this weekend’s opponents, Kenny Miller, is also at Dens Park.
Given the timescale, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a combination of the above in caretaker charge at Livingston.
If they decide to go down the ex-player route again, Ian McCall has taken Ayr United to the top of the Championship and no doubt the fans’ dream appointment would be Gordon Strachan, who still maintains a strong affection for the club he started out with as a player.
Jim McIntyre seems to be linked with every job that comes up at the moment and would be a sensible course and distance option when you look at the job he did at Ross County.
The full Dundee statement confirming McCann’s departure read: “The club can confirm that manager Neil McCann has today left the club.
“We have explored alternative options to support the management staff recently but unfortunately these did not come to fruition. Assistant manager Graham Gartland has been relieved from his role.
“Neil was appoint interim manager in April 2017 and steered the club clear of relegation with five matches of the 2016-17 season remaining.
“In the summer he was appointed as manager of the club and in his first full season with the club achieved a ninth place finish with highlights in the season including a victory over Dundee United in the Betfred Cup and Rangers in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
“This season after progression from the Betfred Cup group stage a run of defeats in the league came to an end with a win over Hamilton Accies at the end of September.
“The following week the team were beaten at home to Kilmarnock.
“We would like thank Neil and Graham for their efforts while in charge and wish them all the best for the future.”
McCann’s departure comes just 15 days after city rivals Dundee United parted company with Csaba Laszlo. The Tangerines have since replaced him with former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson.
Already this season, Livingston, St Mirren, Morton, Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Raith Rovers, Airdrieonians, Dumbarton, Berwick Rangers, Queen’s Park and Stirling Albion, as well as both Dundee clubs, have changed their manager.