McCann’s the man for all reasons
Jefferies backing Dundee to benefit from Neil’s knowhow
JIM JEFFERIES recalls a time when managers were given three years to make their mark on a team and so winces as he considers the five-game audition being undertaken by his protégé Neil McCann at Dundee. As manager of Hearts, it was Jefferies who broke the initial bond between Dundee and McCann back in 1996, and he soon discovered that not only had he acquired a winger bursting with pace and skill, but also one endowed with a ruthless competitive streak.
Jefferies believes it is that rock-solid mentality which will give McCann the edge as he endeavours to turn around the fortunes of a team threatened with Premiership relegation after seven straight defeats.
Dundee’s decision to end Paul Hartley’s three-year tenure with just five games of the season left was bold, the selection of McCann as his replacement even bolder.
Jefferies believes the biggest leap is being undertaken by the man himself as he swaps a TV studio for a relegation fight in the technical area at Dens Park.
‘Neil has given up a nice, comfortable situation with his broadcasting work,’ reflects Jefferies, who has recently taken on a consultancy role with League Two side Edinburgh City.
‘He was established at Sky and could quite easily have sat back and continued with the punditry, but he has opted to put himself in the firing line. For me, it’s the right appointment, but management is not getting any easier and clubs rush to judgment quicker than they ever used to.
‘I read recently that the average lifespan of a manager in the English Championship is something like 11 months. That’s ridiculous. Managers should be going in to assess and stabilise in the first year. In the second, you sort it out and shape your own team and, in the third, that’s when you go for success. Now? No chance. Neil has five games. That’s quite a bit of pressure to be under right at the start, but he’ll respond to that challenge.’
Jefferies gave McCann a coaching apprenticeship at Dunfermline back in 2012 where the pair worked together for a couple of years, enduring the club’s administration in the process.
He saw plenty in the former Scotland star’s coaching to suggest he will be adept at shaping a team. But it is in leadership and the ability to absorb pressure that he believes the 42-year-old will really prove his worth.
‘From his punditry you can tell that Neil has great knowledge of the game,’ continued Jefferies, 66, who also managed Gala Fairydean, Berwick Rangers, Falkirk, Bradford City and Kilmarnock. ‘But, having worked with him, I can tell you categorically that he is a winner.
‘It’s one thing to play, another entirely to manage. To do it successfully you need certain things in your make-up and it’s only natural to look at Neil and ask the same questions. You need a steeliness about you, an ability to lead and act decisively. I think he’s got all that. There were never any friendlies in training with Neil — everything was done with an edge.
‘I’m not saying he was nasty, but he always wanted to win and he wouldn’t accept standards slipping. He’s mentally strong and won’t always go for the easy option. He had the opportunity to go to either Rangers or Celtic when he left Hearts and, with his background, it might have been easier to go to Celtic. He chose Rangers but thrived under the pressure.
‘As a manager you need to be able to shrug things off and get a problem sorted. Neil now has an opportunity to show that he can handle all of that.’
As a player, McCann was a success at Hearts, helping the club lift the Scottish Cup in 1998, and left the club for Rangers in a £2million deal a year later. He also played in the English Premier League for Southampton and represented Scotland 26 times.
‘It’s so crucial to command the respect of the players and he will do that with that playing career behind him,’ added Jefferies. ‘He’s also been very high-profile through his broadcasting work, so that gives him a presence.
‘You don’t need to be a big, strong guy to command respect, it’s about authority and that’s something he carries.’
Should McCann prove successful between now and the end of May, it’s likely he will be rewarded with a permanent contract by Dundee’s American owners.
‘I think he will be a popular appointment — he was a very good player for Dundee and I don’t think the fans will have forgotten that,’ added Jefferies. ‘For me it’s the right appointment and, while you can never guarantee anything, if you were asking me to put a bet on I’d back him to make a success of it.
‘But you are going to come under scrutiny no matter the attributes you possess. I actually felt Paul Hartley did all right at Dundee. He was there a decent length of time and managed to get the club promoted.
‘I was a bit surprised Dundee decided to make the change at this stage of the season, but it’s not the first time it’s happened and it certainly won’t be the last. As Neil’s about to find out, it’s a results business and it can change very quickly.’
Having worked with Neil, I can tell you categorically that he is mentally strong, a winner