This club is going places...
Winless in 12 games (and certainties for the drop) but McGhee is still positive
Mark McGhee insists Dundee are still set for a bright future despite their impending relegation. The Dark Blues are six points adrift at the foot of the cinch Premiership with just two games to play and will officially be consigned to the Championship if they fail to defeat Hibernian tonight.
However, McGhee, keen to have his short-term contract extended despite presiding over a 12-game winless streak since taking over from James McPake in February, believes there are still grounds for optimism at Dens Park.
‘I hope to be part of Dundee next season but that all remains to be seen,’ he said. ‘That’s not even been considered.
‘We’ve been concentrating on trying to win games and stay up and then, afterwards, we’ll think about that.
‘I’ve made it clear I want to stay on but I know all the variables. We’ll talk about that when it’s finished.
‘Whether I’m here or not, I think things are happening here.
‘Behind the scenes, in terms of the way people are thinking about the club and the future of the club, it’s very progressive. I think, over the next couple of years, there will be a massive change both in the culture around the football side and maybe even the stadium.
‘I’d love to be part of that, but whether I am or not, big change is coming and I think that’s a very exciting thing for the club.’
McGhee, whose side have an inferior goal difference to secondbottom St Johnstone, admits Dundee are effectively playing to salvage some pride in their closing two fixtures of this season.
‘I think it’s beyond do-or-die,’ he said. ‘realistically, all we can do is try and win a game for our own pride.
‘I don’t expect any help from St Johnstone. Somewhere along the line, they will take a point, so I think, in that respect, it’s done.
‘But we still have something to play for. We have each other to play for. We have the support to play for, and we want to run it as close as we possibly can.
‘I don’t even think it’s lastchance saloon. I think we’re playing for pride.’
McGhee admits Dundee have simply not been good enough over the course of the campaign.
‘I’m not a great believer in luck,’ he said. ‘If you miss a chance or make a mistake, like we did on Saturday, that’s not luck. That’s bad concentration or whatever.
‘Sometimes, we’ve done all right and, other times, we’ve not been good enough but the table doesn’t lie.
‘We are where we are not because of luck but because of our ability.’
Hibernian caretaker manager David Gray, meanwhile, admits he has no idea whether longserving midfielder Scott allan has kicked his last ball for Hibernian.
The 30-year-old has become a bit-part player at Easter road
since being diagnosed with a heart problem in 2020 which caused him to take a break from football in the first half of last season.
allan, who has been involved with Hibs over two separate spells since 2014, has started only six matches this term and has not featured at all since appearing as a substitute in the Scottish Cup victory over Motherwell two months ago.
He is currently injured and with his contract due to expire at the end of this season, it is possible he may have played his last match for a club at which he became a firm fans’ favourite while in his prime.
‘Scott’s struggling with an injury at the moment,’ said Gray, explaining his absence from the matchday squad for last Saturday’s draw with aberdeen.
‘He’s been here a while, he’s someone I’ve known for a long, long time. He’s a really good lad who loves his football and he’s obviously a very good footballer.
‘He’s had some challenges with his health and things like that, which is never easy.
‘He’d have liked to have played more football than he has, but that’s football sometimes.
‘It’s all about opinions. at the moment, he’s not available for selection.’
asked if there was any indication of a new contract for allan, Gray — in interim charge following the recent sacking of Shaun Maloney — added: ‘That will be a question for the next manager.
‘I can’t answer that one because I don’t know who is going to be in charge and what the plan is for everyone moving forward.’
Gray had a stint as caretaker manager in December following the sacking of Jack ross and has been in charge of Hibs for the past three matches since Maloney’s dismissal last month.
Tonight’s match away to Dundee and Sunday’s at home to St Johnstone are likely to be his last in charge before a permanent manager is appointed.
asked if his spells as caretaker had whetted his appetite to venture into management, the 34-year-old said: ‘ask me again next week when it’s all over and I’ve got time to reflect on it!
‘It’s not a nice situation to be in because you’re in it due to people losing their jobs.
‘Obviously, results haven’t been as good as we would like but, for me, it’s been a real learning curve, and one I’ve enjoyed.’