The relationship between managing director and manager at Dundee is the same during the first team’s current run of bad form as it was when they were near the top of the table, according to James McPake.
But the Dens Park boss has admitted that the chats with John Nelms are much easier when his side are winning.
“The conversations with me and John haven’t changed,” said McPake, whose team haven’t won in their last four matches.
“We chat almost daily.
“They’re harder when you’re losing games compared to when you’re winning them but that’s the same for every manager in world football.
“My aim hasn’t changed and neither has the club’s. We want to get back to the Premiership. We’re still in a position where we can challenge to get where we want to be.
“The staff are hurting as much as us. We’re all looking for ways to make the club better.”
On what target McPake was set when he took over a relegated squad which needed a drastic overhaul, he pointed out: “It wasn’t specific. We all know the ultimate goal.
“I’ve been backed and I’ll never say otherwise.
“But it has been a big transformation of a football squad. It’s not been plain sailing.
“We’ve got a good squad and we’re one of the bigger clubs in the league. That’s common knowledge.
“But there’s a reason it’s been tough for teams to bounce straight back – Hearts are the exception and their circumstances were different with their points deduction.
“Some big clubs have taken more than one season to get of this league – Rangers were one of them.
“The fact that it’s tough doesn’t buy you time. We know we haven’t reached the standards this football club demands.
“We’ve not underestimated the league or the challenge but not getting to those levels has been the disappointing thing.”
Recent results haven’t changed McPake’s opinion that January will be a window for subtle changes to his squad.
He explained: “Everybody in this league would want to add quality to their squad but, as I’ve said before, I don’t want to go back to chopping and changing every window.”
Much was made of the booing Dundee players had to deal with in their last home game, with Queen of the South’s Stephen Dobbie saying it helped them secure their win.
But McPake doesn’t believe Dens is any different to other grounds when things aren’t going well.
“I’ve played at this club and other clubs,” he said. “It’s the same everywhere. You need to give them something to cheer.
“Against Queen of the South we almost did but that’s not enough.
“As a group we’ve got us in this position so we’re not looking for favours.
“We know that if we get it right the crowd will support us. It’s all about us.
“If the fans see us doing things the right way they’ll get behind us.
“It’s human nature that fans get frustrated if things aren’t happening.
“Against Queens we got agitated after the crowd got agitated and bang, Dobbie scores. That’s when you take stock, be patient and get the fans off their seats by working the goalkeeper. They’ll feed off that.”
Kane Hemmings said at the weekend that the Championship title is as good as beyond Dundee now, with play-off promotion the focus.
McPake said: “We need to look at the next game against Dunfermline. That’s been my approach from day one.
“We need to get back to winning games. That’s no wins in four.
“There’s more than half the season to go and that’s why we need a consistent run of form, which we haven’t really had yet.
“I can’t look further than Saturday. Let’s get a performance and result.”
