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John Nelms says nobody was offered Dundee job before Gary Bowyer as Dens chief stresses importance of experience

New Dundee manager Gary Bowyer.
New Dundee manager Gary Bowyer.

Dundeeā€™s protracted search for a new manager saw a number of names emerge as serious candidates for the role.

Some were experienced, in the shape of Jack Ross, others were nearer the rookie stage, like Shaun Maloney.

Previous managers at Dens tended towards the greener end of that scale with James McPake and Neil McCann in their first jobs and Paul Hartley in a first full-time gig as manager.

Jim McIntyre and Mark McGhee had much more experience but were short-term and, ultimately, unsuccessful choices.

‘Reality football’

Now, though, Dundee managing director John Nelms and his technical director Gordon Strachan feel theyā€™ve found the perfect mix in new boss Gary Bowyer.

New Dundee manager Gary Bowyer and assistant Billy Barr.

The 50-year-old has plenty of knowhow picked up over 10 years as a manager in the lower leagues down south.

ā€œExperience is very important,ā€ Nelms said.

ā€œWe have gone back and forth over the years, we have tried to develop young managers and taken chances on inexperienced managers.

ā€œBut they absolutely knew the game and we thought they would do a good job.

ā€œIn this case, we wanted an experienced manager who could go into the matches having been there and done that.

ā€œSo heā€™s not learning and making mistakes on the job and can focus on working with the players.

ā€œWe want to create a culture within Dundee that is a winning culture.

ā€œWe want to play reality football to win us games and get promoted.ā€

Development

Crucially, though, his time spent as a youth coach at both Blackburn Rovers and Derby County spoke of an ability to develop young footballers.

And development is the cornerstone Dundee chiefs are hoping to lay towards their future.

ā€œGordon and I started to put together a programme to modify how we do things at the club a few months ago,ā€ Nelms added.

Dundee’s squad boasts promising young players like (from left) Zak Rudden, Max Anderson, Josh Mulligan and Luke McCowan alongside the likes of Cammy Kerr (second from right).

ā€œGary ticked all the boxes of what we want going forward, we want someone with experience, we want somebody to focus on, not just winning, but development.

ā€œIf you look at Garyā€™s stats, 66% of the time he collects points but while he is doing that he is developing good young footballers.

ā€œAt Dundee, we are now in a position where we are bringing through a lot more talent through our academy.

ā€œWe need to keep developing them.

ā€œThatā€™s something Gary has done over his career.ā€

‘Get promoted’

Though developing players is a big part of the job for Bowyer going forward, it is clear promotion from the Championship at the first time of asking is this seasonā€™s target.

And Nelms says there are measures being put in place, plans to change the stature of the playing squad, to help them achieve that aim.

ā€œWinning is the mentality we have to instil,ā€ the American added.

Gordon Strachan alongside Dundee chief John Nelms
Gordon Strachan and Dundee chief John Nelms have found their new manager in Gary Bowyer.

ā€œOne thing we were guilty of last year ā€“ we were not the fittest team, we were not the strongest team, we lost our personal battles and we will learn from that.

ā€œThat is not going to happen any more.

ā€œWe have had these conversations to make sure we have all the right processes in place to a) get promoted and b) properly prepare for the Premiership when we do get promoted.ā€

Jack Ross or Shaun Maloney?

During the lengthy search for Mark McGheeā€™s successor ā€“ one that took over three weeks ā€“ Jack Ross and Shaun Maloney were named as the final two candidates in the early stages.

Ross backed out before talks with Maloney fell through with both sides having reservations over the deal.

Asked about those two, Nelms insists no one was offered the job before the call was made to Bowyer.

ā€œWe had a lot of good candidates that came through with a lot of good attributes but we never talked about contracts, we never talked about money,ā€ Nelms said.

ā€œWe see this as a long-term move and thatā€™s why it has taken as long as it has.

ā€œThe boxes were very specific boxes to tick and Gary fits that mould.

ā€œIt took a while to get there and we have had some really good candidates who we have spoken to.

ā€œGary stood out.ā€

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