Mccann planning to build network of Dark Blue spies
resources. The former Sky Sports pundit said: “It’s been a real team effort between the staff this summer. We’ve all mucked in and done our homework.
“You wouldn’t believe the number of hours that have been put into recruitment. It’s been extensive.
“So I’m delighted with the guys we’ve brought in. They offer us something we didn’t
0 Dundee manager Neil Mccann is intent on improving his club’s scouting network in a bid to ease the recruitment process. have. We have two different types now in a lot of key positions.
“But I have to admit the process of identifying guys has been hard, because the club really doesn’t have any recruitment system behind it.
“It’s something I’ll be speaking to our managing director John Nelms about because it’s so important. If you ask any manager, he’ll tell you that recruitment is top of the list of priorities.
“So we need help. We have been chasing our tails a bit this time. We need a database so that come January if we want to strengthen, we have a wee list we can choose from rather than running about crazy 24 hours a day taking calls, looking on Wyscout, looking at games.”
Mccann hopes his most recent addition, frontman Sofien Moussa, will receive the international clearance he is waiting for to complete his Dens Park move before tonight’s opening Betfred Cup clash at Raith Rovers.
Last term, former boss Paul Hartley, pictured, complained his side’s Ladbrokes Premiership campaign suffered after being knocked out of the cup at the group stage.
And his Dark Blues successor does not want to take any chances this time round.
“I don’t want to use these games as a warm-up,” he said. “It’s important that we start building a winning mentality from the first game of the season – starting on Tuesday. “I don’t think you can go into the season half-cocked. “Of course we don’t want to go out of the cup. That would be a disaster. If that was to happen it would either be through bad luck or a team being better than us. “But we will give every team we face the same respect we’d show Rangers or Celtic. We will be ready.” Ross County manager Jim Mcintyre says all the pressure is on his Ladbrokes Premiership side as they get set for tonight’s Betfred Cup tester at League Two hosts Montrose.
The Staggies made a winning start in Group D by seeing off League 1 opponents Alloa 2-0 on Saturday thanks to a screaming volley by defender Marcus Fraser and a close-range strike by Craig Curran.
Mcintyre, who guided the Dingwall club to League Cup glory in 2016, is taking nothing for granted when his players face Montrose, who crashed to a 4-0 defeat by Hibernian on Saturday.
He said: “It will be another tough match. These games are never easy, especially at this stage of the season when you are still trying to find your sharpness and decision-making.
“The pressure is all on us and it is up to us to go there and do the right things and if we can do that then we have a good chance of winning the match.”
County forward Alex Schalk bit off some of his tongue when he fell on his neck during the first half against Alloa, but the Dutchman recovered and played on playing. Mcintyre confirmed he would be okay for the trip to Links Park.