James McPake doesn’t think he’ll be able to go up against his “close friend” in the dugout in the same manner he does with other managers.
The Dunfermline Athletic boss will go head to head with Celtic B head coach Darren O’Dea when the sides meet on Tuesday in the SPFL Trust Trophy.
The former central defenders were on the books together as players at Dundee before McPake was given his first chance in senior management.
O’Dea helped make what was a daunting task even more difficult.
In McPake’s first match as caretaker – the final game of the 2018/19 season, following the departure of Jim McIntyre – O’Dea was sent off in the 22nd minute.
Dundee were 1-0 up at the time and went on to lose 3-2.
O’Dea’s red card:
Regardless, McPake was given the job full-time while it turned out to be O’Dea’s final match before he moved into coaching at Motherwell.
He then returned to Celtic Park, where he also spent time as a player, initially coaching the under-18s.
Manager in the making
That match also did nothing to stop their friendship from growing and the Dunfermline boss backs his friend to go far in the game.
“I am really close with Darren, he came into Dundee when we were both players,” said McPake.
“I was an injured player but the two of us were helping coach as well.
“He has great knowledge of the game, he has a great way as a coach.
“He speaks really well and is really focused and driven in what he is trying to do.
“I know that he is manager of Celtic B but he will be a fantastic manager when he decides to go out on his own.
“His ideas are really good and I have a lot of respect for him as a person.
“It will be funny, I don’t know if I could really argue with him,” laughed McPake, “we are too close for that so it will be difficult on Tuesday.
“They will be tricky because they are a good side.”
Time for fringe players
The SPFL Trust Trophy third-round tie was originally set for the end of September but was postponed due to a host of international call-ups in the Celtic B team.
Dunfermline will be without the cup-tied Chris Mochrie and the injured duo Lewis McCann and Kevin O’Hara.
McPake said he will use the match to give minutes to some players on the fringes of the squad – but not at the expense of going out the competition.
They will also be looking to bounce back from a disappointing draw with Clyde at the weekend.
“There will certainly be some who need the minutes and some of the younger ones who have been excellent in the academy,” he said.
“We will focus and pick a team that can get a positive result.”
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