Dundee boss Barry Smith may have been rewarded yet again for his work since taking charge at Dens Park but would prefer to shine the spotlight on others.
Smith has been named Irn Bru first division manager of the month for December to go with the accolade he earned for his efforts in November.
However, instead of basking in the recognition, Smith dedicated it to backroom men Gordon Wallace and Rab Geddes.
He also heaped praise on senior players Rab Douglas and Matt Lockwood, who double as coaches, for their roles in helping him take his first steps in management.
However, it was veteran duo Wallace and Geddes who earned the lion’s share of the plaudits for helping him lead the Dark Blues on a 10-match unbeaten run, only ended when they came up against SPL side Motherwell in the Scottish Cup on Sunday.
Smith, who is eagerly awaiting the outcome of today’s appeal to the SFA against the 25-point deduction handed down by the SFL for going into administration, will call on their experience if, as feared, a rejection leaves them in a relegation dogfight.
“I wouldn’t be able to do the job without the backroom team I have,” said Smith. “I am new to this and have been learning every day, that is why having the likes of Gordon Wallace and Rab Geddes has been so important. So, if anything, winning the manager of the month award is for them.
“Gordon and Rab have been in the game for years, they have a wealth of experience and I have been bouncing my thoughts off them. Sometimes there are wee things they notice in games and listening to them helps me make my mind up what to do.
“Rab, for example, has a brilliant knowledge of the game and he doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Also having big Rab Douglas and Matt Lockwood to help me during the training has been invaluable.
“I am mindful that they are playing as well so I have done as much as I can to help take a burden off them but they have worked so hard to make sure every day goes smoothly.
There is no way we would have done as well as we have recently if it weren’t for the hard work of the players and every member of the coaching staff. It has been a real team effort.Griffiths move expected to be completedSmith is about to lose star striker Leigh Griffiths, with his £150,000 move to Wolves likely to be completed today.
Griffiths was at Molineux last night having a medical and is expected to agree personal terms.
Dundee had hoped to loan him back for the remainder of the season but that was blocked by the SFL so they will face division one leaders Dunfermline at East End Park tomorrow with Sean Higgins as their only recognised striker.
Smith has youngster Leighton McIntosh available but, while he rates the 17-year-old highly, would be reluctant to throw him into the deep end against the Pars.
Smith said, “Wolves’ interest in Leigh has been going through the administrator. If he goes then good luck to him because it would be a great chance for him. From the club’s point of view it is disappointing that the SFL won’t allow him to come back here.
“We will benefit from the money as we aim to get out of administration but that’s it. In a playing sense we will be weakened. It would be just the same player coming back in and I can’t understand why the SFL are being like this.
“We will be losing a very talented player and have nobody to replace him. Young Leighton McIntosh has a lot of potential but in my view he is not ready yet. He has done well playing for 10 or 15 minutes here and there but I don’t want to be asking much more of him at the moment.
“He would be coming into a team with a lot of pressure to survive in the league.
“I wouldn’t want to expose a young lad like that to the circumstances we are in because it could knock him back a bit.”
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy last night stressed that Griffiths will be considered a player for the future not the present.
“With the greatest respect to Leigh, I don’t want anyone thinking we are signing a premier league striker that is going to come in and rip it up at the moment.
“That is not the case, but what we have always done is sign players who we think might be valuable to us and a bargain. Leigh has got a good goalscoring record and he is just one we think we might eventually develop into a good player.”
Meanwhile, Dundee look set to have wide man Nicky Riley available to face the Pars. He has missed the last two games with a hamstring problem but is winning his fitness battle.The meeting planned by Dundee administrator Bryan Jackson to try to reach agreement with the club’s creditors on a CVA has been rescheduled from January 28 to Friday, February 4.