Having helped save the club in what was their darkest hour Neil McCann believes he is once again the man to turn things round for Dundee after agreeing to take over as interim manager as they bid to avoid Premiership relegation.
McCann’s place in the affections of Dundee supporters was secured with a goal on what was his second debut for the club against Raith Rovers after he answered then manager and former team-mate Barry Smith’s emergency call during the 2010-11 season as a threadbare squad continued a club record 23 match unbeaten streak to avoid relegation from the Championship having started the season with a 25 point penalty after entering administration.
Read more: Neil McCann admits risk is all Dundee's as they gamble on his switch from punditry to management
This time around he arrives amid another crisis with the club having lost seven matches in a row to drop from the top six to the second bottom Premiership play-off slot, but he is in no doubt that the personnel that beat Rangers then scored five goals in the first half against Motherwell in the two matches before that collapse in form, have the capacity to turn things round.
“I am massively confident,” he asserted.
“I am not going to kid anyone on and say it is going to be easy because it won’t. The other clubs around us will have that same mentality but the only thing that matters is when you cross that white line.
“The guys have been close and haven’t been able to get that win but all it takes is one win and then the confidence will rise. The squad will then start to take a few more risks because I know what it is like when confidence is down you don’t take a risk or try the killer pass. It is my job to bring out the confidence and to get us the points to get us away.”
The 42-year-old lacks experience as a manager having become better established as a television pundit since his playing days ended and he remains contracted to them in the longer term, explaining that further discussions will take place with Dundee at the end of this campaign.
Sky TV have, however, agreed to release him to focus fully on his new role once this weekend’s commitments working at this weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-finals are out of the way and McCann said that supporters could draw confidence from the way he performed during his two spells as a player and, in particular, when coming out of retirement to do such a vital job for them six years ago.
Read more: Neil McCann admits risk is all Dundee's as they gamble on his switch from punditry to management
“I hope the fans know what the club means to me,” said McCann.
“That is the reason I am sitting here and not in my seat in the Sky set-up is because I have a love of the club and I believe I can make a difference. Time will tell whether that is true or not but that is my belief.
Managing director John Nelms meanwhile indicated that memories of that campaign had been a factor in the board’s decision.
“Neil was our first choice,” he said.
“He’s been in this situation with us before. He knows loads about the club. The passion which Neil has for this organisation, there’s not a better person for the job.
“There are five games to go and I feel is going to get us out of what we’ve got ourselves into.”
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