Neil McCann

[BridgeIsBlue 66,578]

Neil McCann wants another chance to prove himself as a boss despite admitting "losing the rag" with Dundee players unable to handle his demands.

The 44-year-old former Scotland winger was sacked in October after his side took three points from their first eight games this season.

Former Dundee players Scott Bain and Kevin Holt have criticised his style.

But McCann told BBC Scotland: "They would have come good. They needed a bit of time."

 

McCann, who began his playing career at Dens Park, took charge of Dundee on an interim basis near the end of the 2016-17 season.

After guiding his side clear of relegation trouble, he initially announced he was returning to his role as a TV pundit before reversing that decision three days later to take over permanently.

His side finished ninth last season and struggled at the start of the new campaign only to lift themselves off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership under new manager Jim McIntyre.

In a wide-ranging interview on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound, McCann insisted: "I don't regret taking the job at all."

 

Goalkeeper Scott Bain left Dundee for loan spells with Hibernian and celtic before a permanent move to the Scottish champions after a dispute with McCann.

Midfielder Holt, now with Pafos in Cyprus, and defender Julen Etxabeguren, now of Real Union, have both been quoted as criticising McCann's behaviour.

"There were no square-goes offered," McCann said. "There were certainly passions running high after games.

"Coming in on a Monday, there were no apologies handed out. There was a reasoning of why I lost my temper after the game.

"Some players go under when you place a demand on them. Sometimes they can't handle that pressure."

 

McCann also had a touchline row with St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark and manager Tommy Wright immediately after a 4-0 defeat in March.

Asked if he regretted the incident, McCann said: "No. Why should I? I never touched him.

"I'm a passionate man. When a 6ft 5in goalkeeper grabs you behind the neck, I'm not just going to walk away.

"It kicked off. I think it was unsavoury. It's not good for the game, but I don't think anybody should put their hands on you at the side of the pitch."

McCann pointed out that he had shaken hands with both Clark and Wright at a subsequent game.

 

Days before McCann was sacked, former Hearts manager Jim Jefferies, who was in a similar position with League Two club Edinburgh City, was approached to take a director of football role at Dundee.

"Jim decided it wasn't for him," McCann said. "I spoke to another couple of well-respected candidates who have a real good standing in the game not only as a player but as coaches."

McCann said he "didn't need" help but thought it was a good opportunity to decrease his own workload if the club was offering to pay another wage.

"I was so dominant in terms of dealing with everything - and I mean everything; pick-ups at airports, talking to agents, talking to players, making sure they're okay, scouting," he said.

"I wanted that real control, but to have someone beside you would have been great and, in fact, I spoke to one of the best managers around just now and he actually said it would be a great idea to have a director of football there so you can concentrate solely on football aspects."

 

McCann insists he was surprised to be sacked despite his side sitting bottom of the table.

"I was aware I was under an element of pressure, but certain conversations had between myself and the board were suggestive that I wasn't under immediate pressure," he said.

Having won 2-0 away to Hamilton, Dundee then lost 2-1 at home to Kilmarnock, but the Dens Park board waited until the end of the international break before making their decision to seek a new manager.

"If you look at the two games, we coughed up five chances - maybe only two or three of those were clear," he said. "So, defensively, I think we had addressed a few things.

"A contentious decision cost us a penalty, which was put away, and then we lose the game, but then you go into the international break and we all know the culling season is generally about that time, but it didn't come.

"I prepared the team on the Monday and Tuesday and then got the call, so of course it was a shock."

McCann thought social media now puts extra pressure on football boards.

"I've found in football that negative voices are a lot noisier than positive ones and that can create pressure," he said. "Sometimes a board can either be strong, stand up against it and stick with the ideas that were put on the table when we discussed where we want to go as a club, or feel we need to buckle, we need to make a change."

 

McCann pointed out his team building had been hampered by injuries to key players like Roarie Deacon, Josh Meekings, Paul McGowan and Glen Kamara, while new signing Kenny Miller was suspended immediately after joining the club.

"If you had asked anybody what kind of side are Dundee, they would have said really good footballing side, don't score enough goals, a bit soft at the back," he said. "I think that would be fair, but there was an identity to it."

However, he insisted he would not "change my philosophy" and that he was sacked just as he was beginning to turn Dundee's possession football into a greater goal threat.

"Kevin was quoted as saying I was asking them to do stuff the players weren't comfortable with," he said. "If you lay off of somebody, how do you make them better?"

Asked if he wanted another chance at being a manager rather than returning to being a full-time pundit, McCann said: "Absolutely.

"I love management. I love coaching the boys. I love trying to make teams better.

"I learned an enormous amount in a year of football. I lost my father while working up there, which was really difficult, but it was a real eye-opener in terms of what you had to do with a job."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46598873

Hope gets back into management soon. 

[Essandoh 21,192]

Great football man who would probably benefit from managing a team that isn’t in free fall and virtually beyond saving - regardless of McIntyre’s immediate impact which often comes with new managers.

A mid table Championship side would be the perfect mould for him. Less pressure, more time.

[RS4_wul 4,107]

Hope he gets another job if that's what he wants, love the wee man.

[big blue Fin 3,724]

Neil McCann has a good record as a player and while his foray into managing Dundee was hardly successful who's to say he won't come good in the future.

Good luck to him.

[RangersMedia 35,961]

Love Neil McCann and I hope he finds another job somewhere, where the team isn't a complete joke and he gets some money to work with. 

[ZZed 4,510]

He would be a good one to coach our wingers about passing and movement for a couple of years. I don't think we have space for him but it would be good for us to have someone like Neil around coaching. Hope he finds a job that he can get his teeth into and is supported by his board.

[BlearyEyedBear 4,148]

I know he has history up there, but Dundee was always gonna be a tough first gig for a manager. Especially one that has an emotional attachment to the club.

I think Neil had plans beyond just keeping them up, but you don’t get time at a club like Dundee.

[eejay the dj 31,964]

Watched an interview recently with Boyd and the other Kris

He did come across as a Billy know all if I'm honest

I loved him as a player and wish him all the best in the future . He doesn't seem to have much empathy as a person though

In other words . He is full of his own importance

[TopCat 4,511]

Dundee was the wrong job for the wee man at the wrong time......... they were/are always gonna struggle to stay up in this league.

Hope he gets a job at a club that better suits his style and aspirations.I still think he has a lot to offer the game.