RISKY BUSINESS
Dundee have gambled on me, admits McCann
NEIL McCANN last night admitted that Dundee have taken a risk by handing him the job of preserving their Premiership status. A left-field choice to succeed the sacked Paul Hartley, the 42-year-old will step back from his role as a Sky Sports pundit in order to save the skin of the club with which he began his career. Hired until the end of the season by a Dens Park outfit currently in the relegation play-off spot, McCann (left) insists he is happy to leave all talk of a longer-term deal until the summer. And, while the former Scotland winger remains convinced he will do enough in the remaining games to ensure that discussion takes place, he accepts some Dark Blues fans will be surprised at
the club overlooking such experienced names in favour of a managerial rookie.
‘It’s not a big risk for me — I think it’s maybe a big risk for the club,’ admitted McCann. ‘A lot of guys will think that because I haven’t been in a job before.
‘I appreciate the opportunity and I’m not going into anything lightly.’
Asked about Dundee’s survival chances, McCann insisted: ‘I am massively confident.
‘I am not going to kid anyone on and say it is going to be easy because it won’t.
‘The other clubs around us will have that same mentality, but the only thing that matters is when you cross that white line.
‘The guys have been close and haven’t been able to get that win, but all it takes is one win and then the confidence will rise.
‘The squad will then start to take a few more risks because I know what it is like when confidence is down — you don’t take a risk or try the killer pass. It is my job to bring out the confidence and get us the points to get us away.’
Alan Stubbs, Jim Duffy and Jimmy Calderwood were among the experienced hands linked with the post since Hartley’s exit was confirmed on Monday.
However, McCann believes he does have experience and qualities that can benefit the club in their relegation struggle.
‘I’ve been doing the job with Sky for a number of years now,’ he continued. ‘Most people know the type of person I am and the standards I’ve always had in playing, training and, even in my Sky job, the standards I’ve tried to keep up.
‘I would like to think I will bring those qualities to the football club.
‘Yes, we are in a poor position at the minute, but, equally, we are not far off Kilmarnock (in seventh).
‘It’s important that we get this squad, which is absolutely good enough, heading in the right direction.’
Asked if he believed he would be the club’s manager when next season gets underway, McCann said: ‘I am not really interested in anything beyond that.
‘I am only interested in the games coming up because they are massively important for the club. We are a massive club with a huge fanbase that I have seen personally as a player and I know what the club has to offer. ‘The squad I have now is more than good enough to get away and, with respect to those teams around us, we will be giving absolutely everything. ‘It is up to me to come up with tactics and gameplans that will allow us to win games and it will then be up to the players to carry out those instructions.’ Dens managing director John Nelms was adamant McCann was the first choice after the decision was made to terminate Hartley’s contract. ‘He’s been in this situation with us before,’ said Nelms. ‘He knows loads about the club. At Sky Sports, he often gets better angles than we do at times. ‘The passion which Neil has for this organisation, there’s not a better person for the job.’ ‘There are five games to go and I feel he is going to get us out of what we’ve got ourselves into.’