DUNDEE remain hopeful of having an interim manager in place ahead of tomorrow's trip to Celtic Park.
Scot Gardiner, the club's chief executive, held lengthy interviews with three candidates in Edinburgh yesterday and is eager to make an appointment forthwith, with Barry Smith having been sacked on Wednesday.
It is understood that Jimmy Calderwood is a contender, the former Aberdeen manager having expressed his desire to fill the role, along with Gus Macpherson, who is held in high regard for his work with St Mirren. John Brown, the former Rangers player, has also been touted as a possible appointment. All three are out of work so would be able to take over with immediate effect and there would be no issue of compensation.
Calderwood, certainly, has made his interest clear. "It's a fantastic club and after the top five – the two Glasgow teams, the Edinburgh teams and Aberdeen – they are the next biggest team in Scotland, potential wise," he said. "They have a fantastic support. I remember being at Ross County when they were trying to stay in the league and they must have taken 2500 fans up there. It was unbelievable."
Ray Farningham, who was Smith's assistant, took first-team training yesterday in preparation for the trip to Glasgow, with the Dens Park side 15 points adrift at the foot of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League and staring relegation in the face unless there is a dramatic upturn in their fortunes. However, the board have not given up hope and are also targeting victory in next weekend's William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final with Dundee United.
The supporters, however, do not seem so optimistic, with just 56 tickets having been sold for tomorrow's trip to Parkhead. Many furious fans have opted to turn their back on the encounter in protest at Smith's dismissal, having been told just six weeks ago his job was safe long-term.
Normally, around 700 fans would be expected to take up tickets for the game but the disgust at the dismissal of a manager who had a 17-year association with the club will cause many to stay away.
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