Inside story of Dee’ s highs and lows of another eventful season

Dundee’s 2023-24 season was one to remember. Tony Docherty’s debut campaign as a manager brought a return to the very top table of Scottish football. The club that finished third in the Championship in 2020 was suddenly the sixth best side in the country just four years later.

But it would not be Dundee without a rollercoaster ride along the way – there were more ups than downs certainly but Rangers rancour and the dreaded Dens Park pitch controversy meant it was far from plain sailing.

The end would come with big celebrations at Pittodrie and joyful scenes between players and fans.

The start, though, was shrouded by uncertainty.

MANAGER MERRY-GO-ROUND

Uncertainty not over which division the Dark Blues would be in, rather who would lead them into the promised land of the Premiership.

Less than an hour after being announced as Championship Manager of the Season, Gary Bowyer was handed an envelope by managing director John Nelms that brought an end to his tenure at the club.

The chosen replacement was not Tony Docherty, however.

The job was Callum Davidson’s. If he wanted it. The timing, though, was wrong coming so soon after his spell at St Johnstone had ended.

That was May 17 – a week after Bowyer’s sacking – and the days stretched, becoming weeks, without a manager. Between May 10 and May 29 the manager’s office at Dundee was empty.

Looking back a year on, that appears a farcical fact. But good things come to those who wait.

The Dark Blues waited and surprised Scottish football by announcing Docherty as the man to lead them in the top flight.

NEW MANAGER, NEW STAFF, NEW TEAM

June was approaching and there was a whole lot to do – getting a team together the most pressing issue.

Quickly contract extensions appeared – Cammy Kerr the first of those to take him into his testimonial year, Adam Legzdins next then Lee Ashcroft and Harry Sharp.

Then the first new face arrived on June 2 as Joe Shaughnessy signed up.

There were also departures – club captain Ryan Sweeney left and so did stalwart Paul Mcgowan in mysterious circumstances.

A club statement said they had been unable to reach Mcgowan to confirm his nine years at the club were over.

However, Courier Sport understands he had actually been in contact with decision-makers at the club and was aware of the situation.

But the signings were arriving and the squad began to look promising.

STARS IN THE MAKING

Owen Beck arrived on loan from Liverpool, complete with major praise from Jurgen Klopp.

Dundee were clearly excited about his arrival and fans who had made the pre-season trip across the Irish Sea quickly saw why.

The Wales Under-21 international made quite the first impression as he tore Bray Wanderers apart on a beautiful July day.

To finish the summer tour, Luke Mccowan scored from the halfway line against Fleetwood to give a sign of things to come.

The competitive stuff began just over a week later and Docherty got his managerial career off to a winning start.

Zak Rudden scored the only goal at Bonnyrigg Rose with Beck, Shaughnessy, Scott Tiffoney, Jon Mccracken and Malachi Boateng all making their debuts.

Dundee would miss out on qualification for the League Cup knockouts by just one goal.

BACK IN THE BIG TIME

A decent start to the Premiership season saw a home draw with Motherwell, Lyall Cameron heading in his first topflight goal to equalise.

Then came a poor first half at St Mirren that brought defeat.

Docherty’s start was a slow one – out of the League Cup and the wait for a first league win stretched until the end of August.

But it burst into life when Hearts came to Dens Park. No doubt thanks to a pre-match argument over a team-sheet.

“Human error” was how Docherty described it postmatch. He had picked Josh Mulligan in his starting XI with Mccowan on the bench.

However, the team sheet was mistakenly submitted with Mccowan starting.

And all hell broke loose in the referee’s room.

Match official Alan Muir was happy to accept the change to the starting XI to reinstate Mulligan, as Docherty had planned. Proof in the shape of a Whatsapp message sent before the deadline was good enough for the ref.

It was not, however, good enough for Hearts and manager Steven Naismith, who insisted they wouldn’t accept any change.

That, though, backfired. Big time. Due to the mix-up, Mccowan was moved from his usual position on the wing to a central midfield role. And he flourished.

A tight game was won in the end when Dundee stole the ball high up the park and Mccowan looked up with goalkeeper Zander Clark scrambling back to his empty net.

A perfect lob beat his despairing dive and nestled in the top corner.

PITCH PROBLEMS SURFACE

A bunch of draws followed, one at St Johnstone particularly frustrating after an excellent performance was spoiled by conceding a twogoal lead.

Then came Storm Babet and the first postponement of the season. Ross County were due to be at Dens Park on October 7 but a waterlogged pitch saw the game called off.

The game eventually got played and a dull 0-0 draw was the result, seeing Dundee drop to 10th place in the Premiership.

A 2-0 win at Livingston was followed by a 5-0 home hammering by Rangers on a bizarre night of delays and pyrotechnics that saw ref Kevin Clancy “tackle” Mccowan in the lead up to a Gers goal.

But then came back-toback wins with clean sheets – making it three in four games – as Livi again and then St Mirren were dispatched.

Dundee were up to fifth and times were good.

There would be struggles to come, however, and more rain. Matches against Aberdeen and St Johnstone were postponed because of the waterlogged pitch.

Results had turned for the worse, the pitch wasn’t helping and then came a bitter blow in the January transfer window.

BECK RECALL AND RETURN

Liverpool were having real trouble at left-back