Jim’s sacking was no Texas chainsaw massacre
Nelms: Axing gaffer wasn’t too hasty..Dens has become toxic
DUNDEE chief John Nelms last night insisted the atmosphere around his club had become toxic and Jim McIntyre had to go.
But the Dens managing director dismissed claims he’s a trigger-happy Texan who should have followed the manager out the door.
The American and business partner Tim Keyes are looking for their fourth manager in only three years following their relegation from the Premiership.
Astonishingly the last time a head coach left the Dark Blues of his own accord was in 1996 when Jim Duffy quit to join Hibs.
McIntyre couldn’t stop the rot after succeeding Neil McCann in October and a run of 10 defeats on the trot sealed his fate earlier this month when Dee dropped into the Championship.
Sluggish season-ticket sales underlined supporter apathy towards the manager, Nelms claims, and ultimately led to his dismissal.
He said: “The path we’re on, the way everybody feels around here – the entire group – is very, very negative.
“We have a very toxic feel around the place. That was the reason for the timing. We had the opportunity to make a change and go forward.
“I’m not sure our support would have got behind Jim moving forward.
“Fan feeling was a big part of the decision, you always take that into account.
“It’s a big deal. We want to entertain them and we want the best for them and we’re gutted when we lose. We want it to be the best it can be but when you lose 10 games on the trot it’s hard to be successful, although we did rebuild in a window that’s probably not the best to rebuild in.
“It’s hard to be successful when it’s like that but we looked at where we are and with the general mood around Dundee we thought it was best to make a change.
“I’d like to give managers more than one window. I’d like to give them the best opportunities to succeed.
“But in this case, with the amount of losses we’ve had, it was hard. Everything went the wrong way and here we are. Now we want to put that behind us and start focusing on positives for next season.”
Nelms and Keyes have been in charge of Dundee for the last six seasons and appear no further forward, on the field at least, than when they arrived.
Consistent annual losses – more than £400,000 to May 2018 on turnover of £4.5million – have become the norm, with this season set to produce a negative string of financials.
They insist investment in their youth structure will soon bear fruit and remain adamant their plans for a new stadium at Camperdown Park, with a capacity of approximately 15,000, are on track for 2021.
But cynics reckons they’re culpable for the club’s plight as much as former managers McIntyre, McCann and Paul Hartley. Nelms said: “It’s the prerogative of the critics to say I’ve failed. I’m quite happy to take the bullets for the people who help us.
“Everything we do in the organisation, outside of what has been happening on the park, has been very, very positive. In an ideal world, hopefully by 2021 we’ll be in a new stadium.
“It’s a year behind where we were in the past but that’s the plan of attack.”
I’m not sure our support would have got behind Jim moving forward JOHN NELMS