Hartley helped by words of the wise
PAUL HARTLEY admits he needed a quick pick- me- up after Dundee’s 6-2 derby defeat to their fierce city rivals on New Year’s Day left him at his lowest ebb — and his team without a win in seven league games.
In times of trouble, you reach out to the tried and trusted and, after conversations with his f ormer managers Gordon Strachan, Craig Brown, plus Archie Knox, the Dark Blues boss felt like he was heading back towards a state of calm.
He was further reassured when he switched on the TV later that evening and saw Jose Mourinho’s supposed invincible Chelsea side had conceded five at Spurs.
Since that grim start to the year, Hartley has indeed recovered and hasn’t looked back. His players have responded in a positive manner and are unbeaten in their last eight league games with five wins and three clean sheets.
They face a rejuvenated Ross County this afternoon in Dingwall — with the Highlanders having finally moved off bottom spot by beating Partick and Motherwell — and Hartley knows his team will need to perform extremely well to stretch the undefeated run to nine.
‘The players deserve all the credit. They have recovered well from the derby defeat. It’s been a great response,’ Hartley told Sportsmail.
‘On a personal level, it’s great that I can lean on my former managers when required. I spoke to Gordon Strachan, Craig Brown and Archie Knox. I really appreciate the fact they are willing to communicate with me and put up with me!
‘I needed it at that time because, in terms of my time as a manager, I can’t remember ever feeling as low as I did that night.
‘Speaking to the national manager was refreshing for me because I have so much respect for him. He told me he’d been in that position before and it was nice to tap into his thoughts and wisdom. He told me whenever he was on a bad run he stuck to his guns and didn’t make any dramatic changes.
‘Being a manager can be very lonely. You feel totally responsible and that everybody is looking at you, looking for answers to every problem because the whole football club relies on the manager.
‘ You f i nd out plenty about yourself in such times and you also find out the people you can trust, rely on and the ones who will be there for you. My assistant, Gerry McCabe, and the backroom staff have been great.
‘So, it’s behind us and it shows me I can manage at a high level and that I do have something to offer. Sometimes when you are on a wee run and you can’t win a game, you start to doubt yourself. But, if you look at the bigger picture, it’s important to bounce back.
‘I know it’s going to happen to me again at some stage during my managerial career and the experience of the period of New Year will stand me in good stead.
‘Also, I’m not great company when we l ose. In f act, I’m terrible company for at least two days. I just think about the game so much. I can’t switch off. I immediately look for answers and sometimes they are not there as quickly as you’d like them. But I keep searching. This is my job and I want to be the best manager I possibly can be.
‘So, yeah, I hate losing. I’m a much nicer person to be around when we have won. So, things have been good for the past few weeks! I hope it’s the same this weekend but Ross County are doing great just now. This will be a tough test.’
Hartley has certainly impressed in his time as a manager. He is only 38 but has al r e ady r acked up successive back-to-back promotions with Alloa and then the SPFL Championship with Dundee.
There won’t be another title success this campaign but finishing i n the top six will be j ust as satisfying.
Hartley added: ‘I’ve been a manager for four years and it’s been nonstop. I have successful times and I want it to continue. From my time at Alloa and Dundee I’ve had 150 or 160 games as a manager and I think I’ve had many more highs than lows.
‘Managers lose their jobs very easily and it’s an achievement to survive more than two years at the one club. I’ve got to be good at what I do because I need to be a manager for the next 20 years.
‘In order to do that, I will try to keep evolving, learning, progressing and working ever so hard.
‘Of course, I can’t win a title this season but finishing in the top six would be the equivalent. It would be a remarkable achievement.’