New Dens challenge is exciting says Barr

New Dundee assistant boss Billy Barr believes he and Gary Bowyer are the perfect remedy for the Dark Blues’ Premiership “hangover”.

The management duo were appointed at Dens Park earlier this week, with the aim of steering the side back to Scotland’s top flight at the first time of asking.

Both know the scale of the task in front of them and are coming into the role as relative newcomers to Scottish football.

Barr had a short stint with Gretna in the Third Division at the end of his playing career, after spells at Halifax, Crewe and Carlisle.

He acknowledges that the game north of the border has changed since then but is confident he and Bowyer can do the job at Dundee.

“We can’t go into next season with the hangover of this one,” Barr said. “That’s why we’re here.

“We’re really excited about the challenge.

“I’m thankful for Gary again asking me to work with him.”

Barr formed a strong partnership with Bowyer while they worked together at Salford City last season.

The pair were dismissed from the English League Two side in August after missing out on the play-offs.

However, during their year in charge of Salford, they were in charge for 52 games, losing just 18 of those.

“It’s a bit like deja vu. He (Bowyer) asked me last year to go to Salford,” Barr said.

“We’ve built a really good working relationship together and we’re trusting of each other.

“If you look at the track record our last 30 games down there, we were the fourth-best team.

“We’re hoping that our energy together brings out the best in the players that are at the club and the ones that are going to come in as well.”

Peterhead manager Jim McInally reckons Dundee are on to a winner with the appointment of Gary Bowyer – as he knows how to deal with the pressure of managing at big clubs.

The 50-year-old was appointed to the Dens Park side on Wednesday and McInally reckons Bowyer’s experience of managing sides including Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bradford and Salford City will be pivotal to succeeding with the Dark Blues.

McInally, who had a spell as player-coach at Dens in the late 1990s, said: “I first met Gary when he was 12 as I played with his dad Ian at Nottingham Forest.

“I was down there living on my own and Ian would take me to his family home every now and again and he was always telling Gary to go out and play football in the garden.

“I have remained close to the two of them and I was delighted to see Gary get the job at Dens Park.”

Bowyer’s playing career only lasted eight years due to injury and was forced to retire aged 25, but McInally added: “He is a very solid and very pragmatic manager who will play a style that suits the strength of his players.

“The big thing for Dundee is they have a manager who is used to being at a big club.

“He was at Blackburn and Salford where he had to deal with a lot of pressure and that will

stand him in good stead at Dundee.

“They will be a target for other clubs in the Championship and he will know how to handle that.

“I would expect Gary to bring in some new players as he has an extensive knowledge of the English market that he can tap into.”

New Dee no 2 Billy Barr.