Dee boss’s disbelief at lengthy Euro wait

Tony Docherty could not quite believe it when he heard that Dundee have not played in Europe for 21 years.

After securing top-six football, the possibility of a place in the qualifiers of the Uefa Conference League for finishing in fifth place became available.

The last time the Dark Blues reached European competition came in 2003 when Jim Duffy’s men qualified for the Uefa Cup.

St Mirren and two points stand between Dundee and ending that lengthy wait. Docherty said he was stunned to learn it had been so long since Dundee had graced the Continent.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said the Dundee boss.

“I reminded the team of that in our team meeting. I made sure they feel that sense of satisfaction from getting into the top six as the newly promoted club.

“I now want to address that and say they have an opportunity, as a group of players, to bring European football to Dundee for the first time in 21 years.

“We have put all those building blocks in place and I don’t think if you spoke to any Dundee fan they thought we would be in this position.

“We had achievements all throughout the season which we have ticked off.

“The next one is getting into Europe. I have just found out the team hasn’t been in Europe since 2003.

“But I think we have to realise what the players have achieved.

“There is a great sense of satisfaction that we have got to the top six, but knowing my group of boys they will want to go one step further.”

If they are to cap off a great season with European football, Docherty will be able to draw on the years of experience he gained as assistant at Derek McInnes’s Aberdeen.

Docherty added: “We had some brilliant times in Europe. We had some big, big results.”