Paul Hartley oversaw his first training session as new Dundee boss and was delighted with what he saw.
The manager stressed when he was formally unveiled at Dens on Wednesday night that one of his first jobs would be to inject some much-needed confidence into a squad of players who haven’t won in three matches and who lost their previous gaffer John Brown at the start of this week.
However, on the evidence of Thursday’s efforts at training the manager firmly believes the fans will see a revitalised group of players in Saturday’s crunch Championship clash with Hamilton.
Hartley said: “The players were really good this morning. We had a good chat with them and they are raring to go.
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“You can see that there’s a spring in their step. There was a sharpness about them which they now have to take into Saturday’s game.
“I just shook all their hands in the morning. I then spoke to them after training because I wanted to see what they were like.
“And to be fair, the quality was outstanding. I’ve told them I need them all.
“We need a siege mentality because they have taken a lot of stick. As a whole, they’ve been hearing that they should be doing better.
“It’s bound to affect them. It’s never nice getting stick or abuse but they should use that as motivation.
“That’s what happens though. It’s part of the game. If fans aren’t satisfied, they have a right to criticise as they pay their money.
“Our fans have been very loyal but what they want to see is their team winning, and also playing a certain style of football.
“They all talk about budgets and how big a club Dundee are but we’ve no divine right to get promotion so we have to give them the confidence to go and play with a bit of freedom.”
Hartley says he is excited to be the boss of a full-time club and he has already shown his commitment to his new role by deciding to move home from the west to be closer to Dens.
He said: “It’s brilliant being back full-time and on the training ground. I am the Dundee manager now and I see everything in front of us and where I want to take the club.
“I really want to take it to the next level. We have great potential but can we build on it?
“I was here at half seven this morning and I am going to relocate up here so I am here for the full week.
“I think it is important not just in terms of the first team but the young players and the youths at night. I want to be a full part of it.
“We have some really good young players here like Craig Wighton. He is still a kid but I think he has great potential. I am really excited and looking forward to it.”
The new manager also admitted that he will be relying heavily on Ray Farningham, who is staying on at the club in his assistant boss role, for the league run-in.
He said: “I really need Ray between now and the end of the season. He’s my right-hand man. We’ll bounce ideas off each other and he’s very important for me in terms of Saturday’s game.”
That match against fellow promotion rivals Hamilton is one the manager is relishing.
However, he watched Accies last week with his young son and he is aware the Dark Blues face a really tough match.
Hartley added: “It’s a great game to start with. We’re at home and Hamilton are a good side. We have to go and force the issue to get on the front foot.
“There will be a wee bit of a bedding-in process but hopefully the players will take on board what we’re trying to do.
“Everything is there in front of us in terms of where we want to be. We’ve got 14 games left and I think our season really starts now.
“I don’t think we’ve played as well as we can and the players will admit that themselves. But they’re still in there.
“I’m not inheriting a team that is bottom of the league so they’ve got to remember we’re at the top end of the table.
“They know what is there at the end of us so it’s up to us to hopefully go and deliver.”