I’m still the man to lead Dundee, says boss Neil McCann

Posted Sunday, September 23, 2018 by PA

Neil McCann insists he is still the man to turn Dundee around, but will not be seeking assurances over his job from Dens Park chief John Nelms.

The Dark Blues manager faced fresh boos from the angry Dee support as his side lost again to Hibernian on Saturday.

The 3-0 defeat leaves them bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership without a point after six straight losses.

But asked if he was convinced he was still the man to lead the club out of danger, McCann replied: “Yes, absolutely.”

The former Scotland winger did admit he was operating under strained circumstances but insists he will not be looking for a vote of confidence just yet.

“I don’t seek assurances,” McCann said. “I’ve not had any conversations with John with respect to my job.

“I just keep working hard. If that time comes then we will have the discussion but so far it’s not happened.

“I feel we are working under pressured circumstances, clearly. I’m not going to hide from that. I know we’re on a real, real bad run in terms of results, so I won’t be ignorant to that fact.

“I’ll deal with the pressure. You take a job in management, you have to deal with the ups and downs.

“Every manager I’ve worked with has had to work under those circumstances and I’m not the type of guy who is going to be frightened by that challenge.

“I’ll just keep working hard as that’s the only thing that I can do. I’m trying to give the lads every piece of information they can use.

“Unfortunately the guys are playing with that lack of confidence. I can’t give them that. They have got to find that.

“They still have my belief in them and I’ll keep giving them it.”

Dundee started brightly but their lack of confidence played into Hibs’ hands. After a sluggish first 45 minutes, Neil Lennon’s team roared out of the traps in the second period, hitting two quick-fire goals through Flo Kamberi and Martin Boyle before Thomas Agyepong sealed the win in stoppage time which sees the Easter Road side jump up to second spot.

“You are looking at a very happy manager,” said Lennon. “I have to say that was one of the most complete performances I’ve seen from them since I have been here.

“We were outstanding at times. In the second half, our control of the game, passing and finishing was everything I could have asked for.

“We have power all over the team. I know Dundee have had their problems but I think a lot of teams would have struggled against us today given the way we played.”