A cluster of diehard Dundee FC fans gathered outside Dens Park last night to welcome the new management duo of Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds to the club.
The pair have been chosen to replace long-time servant Jocky Scott, sacked after the team’s 3-0 loss at the weekend to first division basement club Airdrie.
Chisholm and Dodds, both former Dundee players, have the task of guiding the club into the Premier League.
With nine games to go the Dark Blues are still top of the first division, but their once-commanding lead has been cut to just three points.
At a press conference last night, Chisholm said he was taking on a “massive challenge.”
Ironically, the duo’s first game in charge will be tomorrow night against Queen of the South, the side they left to join Dens Park.
Some players said they were shocked by Scott’s departure. Defender Gary MacKenzie said it was “harsh” when the team is sitting at the top of the league, while captain Eric Paton said it had come as a “big shock”.
While most of the fans who turned out expressed a certain sympathy at Jocky’s departure, the whole group agreed change was needed to stop the slide.
Jake Robertson (55) said, “Most Dundee fans will agree we are in a false position in the league and Jocky just wasn’t cut out for it.
“The change had to happen quickly because we are not going anywhere just now and there has been no enthusiasm shown this season.
“I think Gordon Chisholm will be great for the club, because he is somebody who knows the league and knows what it takes to succeed in it.”
Fraser Malcolm (46) said, “We have been getting outplayed in every game this season and just been getting by with some great saves from the keepers and great individual performances.
“I think loyalty from the board has kept Jocky in for this long, but it is not enough to rely on that.
“Chisholm knows the league and it had to be somebody with experience of this division.
“Billy Dodds is a legend at the club and is somebody who will be bubbly and enthusiastic and that is what we need just now.”
Keith Gardner (42) said, “Jocky Scott never had us playing good football. If you take the two or three good performances away this season, then you are not left with much.
“With the investment that has been made in players we were all expecting more and there has not been enough consistency.
“I think it is great to have Chisholm and Dodds back — especially Doddsy.”
David MacDonald jun (27) said, “I would probably have opted for Ian McCall to take over by a shade, but I’m not sure he would have got the backing.
“Getting beaten from the bottom team 3-0 was the final straw for Jocky as far as I’m concerned.
“Changing managers at this stage is going to be risky and time will tell whether the gamble pays off or not.”
David MacDonald sen (46) said, “I’m not too sure if it is the right thing to be doing and it is certainly a gamble with just nine games to go.
“Having said that, the last month has been very poor and people are just fed up with what they have been seeing.
“The directors have done well to get somebody in so quickly and the two they have got have plenty of the firsthand knowledge we will need going into the end of the season.
“Gordon Chisholm has got Queen of the South playing well but I think he has taken them as far as he can and will be glad to be moving to a bigger club.”
Dylan McCann (16) said, “It is the right decision for Dundee because we have not been playing well and a lot of teams are playing us off the park just now.
“We have really only had two or three players we have been relying on to do everything. That’s not how it should be done.
“Under Jocky we weren’t playing good football, but I think Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds will be a success.”
David MacDonald jun (27) said, “I would probably have opted for Ian McCall to take over by a shade, but I’m not sure he would have got the backing.
“Getting beaten from the bottom team 3-0 was the final straw for Jocky as far as I’m concerned.
“Changing managers at this stage is going to be risky and time will tell whether the gamble pays off or not.”
David MacDonald sen (46) said, “I’m not too sure if it is the right thing to be doing and it is certainly a gamble with just nine games to go.
“Having said that, the last month has been very poor and people are just fed up with what they have been seeing.
“The directors have done well to get somebody in so quickly and the two they have got have plenty of the firsthand knowledge we will need going into the end of the season.
“Gordon Chisholm has got Queen of the South playing well but I think he has taken them as far as he can and will be glad to be moving to a bigger club.”
Dylan McCann (16) said, “It is the right decision for Dundee because we have not been playing well and a lot of teams are playing us off the park just now.
“We have really only had two or three players we have been relying on to do everything. That’s not how it should be done.
“Under Jocky we weren’t playing good football, but I think Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds will be a success.”
David MacDonald jun (27) said, “I would probably have opted for Ian McCall to take over by a shade, but I’m not sure he would have got the backing.
“Getting beaten from the bottom team 3-0 was the final straw for Jocky as far as I’m concerned.
“Changing managers at this stage is going to be risky and time will tell whether the gamble pays off or not.”
David MacDonald sen (46) said, “I’m not too sure if it is the right thing to be doing and it is certainly a gamble with just nine games to go.
“Having said that, the last month has been very poor and people are just fed up with what they have been seeing.
“The directors have done well to get somebody in so quickly and the two they have got have plenty of the firsthand knowledge we will need going into the end of the season.
“Gordon Chisholm has got Queen of the South playing well but I think he has taken them as far as he can and will be glad to be moving to a bigger club.”
Dylan McCann (16) said, “It is the right decision for Dundee because we have not been playing well and a lot of teams are playing us off the park just now.
“We have really only had two or three players we have been relying on to do everything. That’s not how it should be done.
“Under Jocky we weren’t playing good football, but I think Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds will be a success.”
David MacDonald jun (27) said, “I would probably have opted for Ian McCall to take over by a shade, but I’m not sure he would have got the backing.
“Getting beaten from the bottom team 3-0 was the final straw for Jocky as far as I’m concerned.
“Changing managers at this stage is going to be risky and time will tell whether the gamble pays off or not.”
David MacDonald sen (46) said, “I’m not too sure if it is the right thing to be doing and it is certainly a gamble with just nine games to go.
“Having said that, the last month has been very poor and people are just fed up with what they have been seeing.
“The directors have done well to get somebody in so quickly and the two they have got have plenty of the firsthand knowledge we will need going into the end of the season.
“Gordon Chisholm has got Queen of the South playing well but I think he has taken them as far as he can and will be glad to be moving to a bigger club.”
Dylan McCann (16) said, “It is the right decision for Dundee because we have not been playing well and a lot of teams are playing us off the park just now.
“We have really only had two or three players we have been relying on to do everything. That’s not how it should be done.
“Under Jocky we weren’t playing good football, but I think Gordon Chisholm and Billy Dodds will be a success.”