No ‘divine right’ to win, says Sweeney

Dundee are the bookies favourites to win the Championship this season under new boss Gary Bowyer.

Coming down from the Premiership this summer puts a target on the backs of the Dark Blues.

But central defender Ryan Sweeney is well aware of the difficulties they will face.

The former Republic of Ireland U21 international made a big impact at Dundee last term, despite the disappointment of relegation.

Last season’s Player of the Year, though, has not experienced the Scottish Championship before.

However, he is under no illusions how tough it will be in the second tier, despite the Dark Blues being saddled with the favourites tag.

“That doesn’t give us any divine right to turn up and win games,” Sweeney said.

“You could see that last season in the cup matches when we played at Dumbarton. These games are all difficult.

“You flip it when we are playing teams like Rangers and Celtic where we are trying to stodge the game – that will be the gameplan.

“You give that extra 10 or 15%. You have to against these sorts of teams because of the calibre of the player they have.

“Promotion is obviously what we want to achieve, that’s no secret.

“It will be difficult as well, though. There will be bumps in the road, there will be disappointing times.

“That happens every season.

“But this summer, with the manager coming in, we will give ourselves the best possible chance of returning to the top flight straight away.”

Gary Bowyer has been putting his new side through their paces this week as pre-season began at Gardyne Campus.

Returning to training with the team was key central defender Lee Ashcroft.

Dees will be hoping to

see the club’s last two winners of the Player of the Year trophy team up in the centre of Bowyer’s defence in the second tier.

And, as much as Sweeney is ready for a change in mindset, with Dundee going into most games this term as favourites as opposed to underdogs in the Premiership, the big defender is keen to use last season’s disappointments as a positive.

Going down, though, was a new experience for the 25-year-old.

“It was my first time getting relegated. It was such a weird feeling,” the former Stoke City man added.

“Though it had been looming for a few weeks,

until it is mathematically certain you are going down you are still clinging on to that hope.

“But it wasn’t to be and it hurts.

“It will hurt going into next season. Until we actually go and put that right it will stick with us.

“I think that’s one thing we have to use for next season – use it as fuel to have a successful season.

“You don’t want to forget what happened last season because you have to use that for the next season.

“And that doesn’t matter who the manager is – you have to drive that yourself.

“With the new manager coming in, things have been put in place now and we are ready to go.”

MOTIVATION: Ryan Sweeney and his teammates are ready to use last season as “fuel”.

Gary Bowyer will have his team ready to go.