Prudent Dave has taken out some insurance

Dave Mackay is buzzing to be back in full-time football with Dundee.

But after training as a mortgage advisor while in the part-time ranks, he is refusing to bet the house on the beautiful game providing a lifelong living.

The former St Johnstone star spent seven months out of football after being sacked as Stirling Albion boss last November.

His time was taken up preparing scouting reports for Aberdeen and working in finance. But when James McPake asked him to join his backroom staff at Dens Park, Mackay (below) didn’t hedge his bets.

But he insists he won’t give up his mortgage sideline – as he knows that in football, interest is never fixed.

“It’s good to be back full-time because you miss it when you’re out,” he said.

“I had the time at Stirling Albion, but working at part-time level is completely different. You’re only in a couple of nights a week, then it’s the game on the Saturday.

“I loved doing what I did for Aberdeen – going and watching games, doing match reports. But it’s completely different from coaching, and they knew it was something I wanted to get back into.”

Having started his playing career at Dens Park, Mackay’s football life has now gone full circle. But after a topsy-turvy first crack at management at Forthbank, he is determined to keep his options open.

“When I stopped playing, the hope was to be a full-time boss as quickly as possible,” he said. “I could have stayed at St Johnstone in some sort of role, but I wanted to go out and try my hand as a manager.

“With a bit of hindsight, I maybe made the wrong decision. I don’t have any regrets. I learned an awful lot at Stirling about myself and about how a club’s run – or how a club should be run.

“I’m just glad I’ve got the opportunity back with Dundee.”

Whilst at Stirling, Mackay put a message on professional social media website LinkedIn looking for work “outside the football bubble”.

It led to a role as a mortgage advisor. Despite his return to full-time football, it’s not something he’s prepared to give up.

“I’m still doing work outside of football. I’m self-employed so I can fit it in off to the side,” he said.

“I’ve got clients I’ve started working with, so I’m not going to just drop them. I’ll keep it going.”

▪ Dundee have snapped up former Hibs star, Jordon Forster.

The 25-year-old moved from the Hibees to Cheltenham Town two years ago, and featured 35 times for the Robins last season.

He is understood to have jumped at the chance to be reunited with former Hibs team-mate, James McPake.

Forster put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Dens, with the option of a third, and he will fly to Spain with the Dee tomorrow for a week’s warm-weather training.

Already, he is Dundee’s eighth signing under McPake.