Dundee have made a stunning move to try and lure former Scotland manager Gordon Strachan back into football, Courier Sport can reveal.
The Dens Park club have approached Strachan regarding a new technical director role with the Dark Blues as managing director John Nelms undertakes a review of the structure at the club.
Strachan, whose last job in football was as the national team coach, is not interested in returning to management but is genuinely intrigued by the Dundee proposal and is set to meet Nelms for talks, we understand.
The 62-year-old, who started his playing career at Dens, is passionate about youth development and spent an evening watching Dundee youngsters train with the club’s head of academy, Stephen Wright, recently.
When his name was linked a few months ago with the Hibs manager’s job after Neil Lennon’s Easter Road departure, Strachan left the door open for taking up the type of post Dundee have in mind.
He said: “Management isn’t on my agenda right now. But if something came along to give me full scope to do what I’m talking about with youth football, and to manage, then who knows?
“You never say no to any job. I can still coach, and run about, no problem. I just don’t want to take a job for the sake of it. I want to take a job I love.”
The news of Strachan’s possible Dens Park return came as the recruitment process for a new first team coach moved on to the next stage.
The club have confirmed that they are now at the stage of seeking permission to enter talks with candidates they are interested in.
One of them is Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss John Robertson. It is understood however that the Highland side have rejected that approach.
The 54-year-old has steered Caley Thistle to the Premiership play-offs and a Scottish Cup semi-final this season.
No names were mentioned by Dundee in their statement update.
It read: “The club can provide the following update on the current manager situation.
“We have been inundated with applications since the role became available and in the past week have narrowed down our list of potential targets for the first round of interviews which will take place this week.
“Some of the candidates are currently employed by other clubs and we requested permission to speak to them as part of the initial process.
“The overall process is ongoing and we are striving to have the best man in place in the very near future.”
James McPake, who was in temporary charge of the first team at the weekend following Jim McIntyre’s sacking, will be interviewed and Kenny Miller is another in-house option for Nelms. Both are keen on the job.
Jim Goodwin and Derek Adams are also in the running.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Dundee’s Nathan Ralph is on the radar of Hull City. It is thought that Ralph has a relegation release clause in his contract at Dens meaning he could move for free.
