The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Mellon’s book is such a hit he’s writing another
Dundee United manager – and soon to be published author – Micky Mellon has revealed he is already working on a second book.
Mellon’s first work, written in collaboration with head teacher Phil Denton, is titled: The First 100 Days: Lessons In Leadership From The Football Bosses.
It comes out on March 25 and proceeds will go towards the fight against motor neurone disease in honour of Mellon’s exBurnley team-mate Lenny Johnrose.
The Tannadice gaffer is understandably excited and is not yet ready to put down his pen and laptop.
Mellon said: “It is not a book about me. It is a book where I have gone out and gathered evidence on how top managers in the game work.
“It has been a two-and-ahalf to three-year pilgrimage for me, if you like, to go and ask the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Sean Dyche, David Moyes, Sam Allardyce, Walter Smith and Joe Royle what was important to them in their success in the first 100 days of them taking managerial jobs.
“The knowledge I was able to gather from them was absolutely phenomenal.
“It got to a point where I showed it to the League Managers Association in England and they have preordered 600 copies.
“There is that much stuff they want their members to be able to use about what all these top managers are doing or have done and how they go about building a platform to work forward from, not just in football but any job.
“The people who have read it have said you can’t finish here. How do you keep it going?
“Well, we aren’t ready to walk away yet and are looking at the next book – beyond the 100 days.”
Mellon and Denton also delve into the worlds of education and, in particular, business.
Mellon said: “An American president gets measured on his first 100 days. We did Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s whole 100 days.
He actually got offered his (Man United) job from their American owners on his 100th day of his trial from Molde.
“There is other stuff like Toyota and the philosophies of some of the big companies. What shines through it all is that relationships are massive.”
The charitable cause is also close to Mellon’s heart, with the United boss adding: “My friend and former team-mate Lenny Johnrose has been diagnosed with motor neurone.
“I have seen the way he is bravely battling it. I have also seen the way it has taken Jimmy Johnstone and Fernando Ricksen.
“We are also seeing the brave fight of Doddie Weir.”
James McPake plans to scupper Dick Campbell’s hopes of a second consecutive Manager of the Month award – by leading his Dundee side to victory over Arbroath tomorrow.
Campbell was named top Championship boss for February yesterday after leading his side through an unbeaten month.
McPake was full of congratulations for Campbell but hopes to halt him in his tracks.
“The Manager of the Month award is thoroughly deserved and congratulations to Dick for that,” said McPake.
“If he is going to get next month’s and make it two on the trot, he will have to come to Dens Park and win so, hopefully, I can knock that on the head on Saturday.”
Though Arbroath’s unbeaten run of eight games was ended by Queen of the South last weekend, McPake knows his side will face a Lichties team full of confidence.
So far this term, Dundee have won 1-0 at Dens and drawn 1-1 at Gayfield and the Dark Blues boss expects another close encounter.
“The games with Arbroath have been tight this season,” added McPake.
“I said before we played them last time that they are a team you can’t take lightly. They have recently beaten Dunfermline and Raith and went to Ayr and won.
“I have huge
Dick and Ian along with (Douglas).
“It’s more than just organisation and team spirit that they bring, Arbroath also play some good football.
“Those three guys know the game inside out and they have been great with me and Dave (Mackay) as young coaches.
“They always have time for a wee chat, or just keep the chin up when things aren’t going right.
“You might have respect for Campbell big Rab won a couple of games and you’ll have Dick saying: ‘Well done, son’. Or he maybe uses a different term!
“People say I always talk up the opposition managers but I don’t.
‘‘I talk up the ones I have real respect for and the ones that are good with me. Dick falls into that category.
“I’m not surprised Arbroath have fought their way out of trouble and are now trying to battle their way into a play-off position.
“They did that last year and they are a dangerous opponent.
“We are the home team and we know we need to take it to them and be on the front foot from the start.
“If we can replicate the win over Inverness and I even think a lot of the game at Tynecastle, we’ll get a positive result.”
McPake will welcome talisman Charlie Adam back to his squad after the former Rangers and Liverpool man’s recovery from Covid-19.
He missed the 2-1 defeat to Hearts last weekend, a result the Dundee boss insists his players are determined to make amends for.
He said: “It’s good to have Charlie back, he has trained and trained very well.
‘‘We’ve been through the process with him and he’s healthy, which is the most important thing.
“Training has been excellent this week, the boys have all been sharp and been at it.
“I can see our players have the bit between their teeth now and can’t wait for the game.”
Dundee face three games in seven days, with tomorrow’s game followed by matches against Ayr and Alloa on Tuesday and Friday respectively.
With no new injury worries, McPake has the option of rotating his players if he chooses.
“We will need to use the depth of the squad and that’s why we’re glad we’ve got such he said.
“We can chop and change, leave people out for different games.
“Next week is Saturday-Tuesday-Friday.
‘‘People will say the players should be accustomed to that and, yeah they are, but if you have a big enough squad where you can bring players in without damaging what you are trying to do it limits the risk of injuries.
“We have the option, let’s put it that way.
“That’s not to say I’m going to chop and change but we have the option.”
Meanwhile, young midfielder Callum Moore headed out on loan to Forfar Athletic earlier this week.
The lower leagues have been given the go-ahead to restart after stopping in January due to rising coronavirus cases.
McPake expects to see more of his squad move out on temporary deals.
But he revealed that there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding Leagues One and Two.
“Callum will go and get games and we’ll keep an eye on him,” he said.
“We’ll try and get some players out although I think clubs at the minute are a bit apprehensive about taking players when it’s not really clear what’s going to happen.
“We’ve had a few inquiries about players but we’ll see what suits us best. We’ve seen the benefit it gave Lyall Cameron.”
One likely to head out is Josh Mulligan with Peterhead keen to take him back after injury cut his loan spell short at Balmoor earlier this season.
Meanwhile, the Dark Blues’ Championship clash with Dunfermline on Saturday March 27 has been selected for TV broadcast.
It will be shown live on the BBC Scotland channel, with kick-off switching to 7.20pm. a strong squad,”
Kai Kennedy revelled in Rangers’ title success at the weekend and is now determined to help drive Raith Rovers to success.
The winger has been in impressive form for Raith since joining on loan in January, when he also penned a new long-term contract at Ibrox.
The 18-year-old toasted his parent club on Sunday as they sealed their first Premiership silverware in a decade.
But the Scotland Under19 star insists his full focus is now on ensuring Rovers also have something to celebrate as they chase a promotion play-off finish.
Ahead of tonight’s trip to Inverness, Kennedy said: “I wasn’t involved in the celebrations at the weekend but I was celebrating on my own. I’m proud of the boys, they thoroughly deserved it and everyone at Rangers deserves massive credit.
“It’s been a long way for the club and I’m absolutely buzzing for the boys in the squad.
“It’s a great achievement and hopefully it’s just the start of a successful period for Rangers.
“I’ll go back there in the summer but before then I came here to do my best for Raith and to try to get the club into the play-offs.
“We’ll try to keep putting points on the board and if we get into the play-offs I think we’ve got a good chance.”
Kennedy started the campaign on loan at Inverness before homesickness, not helped by Covid-19 restrictions, led to him returning to the
Central Belt. The teenager’s tricky wing play and willingness to get on the ball all over the pitch fits perfectly into Raith’s fluid game plan but he could not lead them to victory in midweek.
Their goalless encounter with Ayr United still lifted the Kirkcaldy club a point clear in second place in the Championship and Kennedy admits it was another valuable lesson for him in his search for crucial first-team experience.
If they can find that elusive finishing touch against Inverness, John McGlynn’s side know they will finish the weekend in the runners-up spot behind Hearts.
And Kennedy admits Rovers are desperate to make the most of playing ahead of their play-off rivals tonight.
He added: “On Tuesday night, Ayr put every player
behind the ball and that’s hard to break down. We tried everything but we couldn’t get the goal we wanted.
“We played well, the effort was there, and I think if we had scored one we would have got two or three.
“It was tough but every game’s a learning game for me. That’s what I try to take out of games like that.
“We’ve got a good run of matches coming up now and we’re looking to put a few wins together.
“Hopefully we can get all three points against Inverness and move clear in second before Dunfermline and Queen of the South play on Saturday.
“It’ll be difficult but I’m sure we can do it.
“I’m looking forward to going back up to Inverness. It’s obviously my old team and it’s a huge game for us, so I’m excited for it.”