The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Paul Hartley was at Hampden yesterday to promote this weekend’s Scottish Cup final. The former Dundee boss also talked about his plans for the future.
Paul Hartley insists he will choose his next job carefully and revealed Brendan Rodgers has been a great source of help and comfort since his sacking at Dundee.
Hartley was relieved of his duties at Dens just over a month ago after seven straight defeats plunged the Dark Blues into the play-off place.
Celtic boss Rodgers and Aberdeen’s Derek McInnes were the first to offer their consolation and, having spoken at length to Rodgers, Hartley knows he should not jump at the first offer that comes his way.
Hartley said: “I do want to get back into management but I need to pick the right club.
“I have seen other managers jump into things and it hasn’t been the right fit for him.
“The next job is important to me and I’m looking forward to the next challenge.
“I am open minded. I look forward to what comes up but there are a lot of managers out of a job, so we will wait and see.”
Hartley went to Celtic’s training ground to meet with Rodgers and reckons it was hugely beneficial. He said: “I think it will be helpful for me when I go into my next job.
“Brendan and Derek were the first people to contact me when I left Dundee and that shows the respect they have for other managers
“Brendan spoke about his experience when he lost his job. What he did wrong, what he did right. I can only learn from that.
“What was particularly interesting for me was when he spoke about being sacked after only 20 games at Reading, what he did when that happened and how he bounced back from it.
“It was brilliant, a great experience just to see how Brendan works as a manager and listen to his own experiences of losing his job. I spent the whole day up there and it was incredible.
“Brendan is just one of those guys you can pick the phone up and call. He’s got time for everyone – not just other managers, but players and the media.
“Just looking at the changes he’s already made to the place and the changes that he’s going to make lets you know that he’s a real class act.
“He told me to come up any time I wanted so I did and I picked his brains about absolutely everything – how he manages, what he does, the things he’s good at.”