Former Dundee boss Archie Knox is to return to the club in a wide-ranging scouting and football development role.
The 66-year-old, who was in charge of the Dark Blues for a spell in the 1980s, has a wealth of experience, having also been assistant boss for Scotland and at Manchester United, Everton, Rangers and, most recently, Aberdeen.
Now present Dundee manager John Brown, who played under Knox at Dens and Ibrox, has persuaded the veteran to come back to the club.
Brown said: “Archie has done it all in football, both domestically and internationally. I have a great respect for him.”
“He’s one I can trust 100 per cent. I met Archie recently and he told me he wasn’t involved in football,” Brown explained.
“He has far too much experience not to be doing anything in the game. Things are changing at the club and they (the owners) want to invest in the future.
“I felt Archie’s wealth of contacts would be invaluable. So I’ve asked him to come in a role which would develop the squad, identifying what we need to strengthen.
“Whether it’s loan players with a view to the January transfer window, or players for next season.”
Brown added: “Myself, Ray Farningham and Rab Geddes are on the training field every day. As a manager, you try and get to as many games as possible but it can be difficult.
“Archie will give us a broader scale who can throw names at us and maybe give us an opportunity to get players up. He’s had a history with the club and he signed me in the 1980s.
“He had a successful Dundee team back then and knows the club well. Archie will be a good soundboard for the directors. It’s another step in the right direction for the football club.”
Dundee secured their third win in a row on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-1 win at Dumbarton.
The victory looked to have come at a cost with in-form striker Craig Beattie having to come off injured but Brown is hopeful that the former Scotland man will be fit for this weekend’s game against Queen of the South.
Beattie sat out training yesterday as a precaution but there was a big welcome back for long-term injury victim, former skipper Stephen O’Donnell.
Brown said: “That was O’Ds first full session with contact and he did not look out of place. Hopefully, in the next few weeks we can build him up as he will be like a brand-new experienced signing.
“You can see his quality and he will add to the team.”
One man who won’t be added to the side though is former Dundee favourite Nacho Novo. The Spaniard is someone Brown knows well and the manager revealed he had offered Novo training facilities prior to the player signing last week for Morton.
However, the Dens boss admitted that while he is a great admirer of Novo, there was never any intention to sign the player, especially as he did not want to stifle the development of teenage strike star Craig Wighton.
Brown added: “I spoke to Nacho months ago to offer him training facilities and then he tried to make contact the other week.
“But a Nacho Novo coming to Dundee would stop the progress of Craig Wighton. Craig is the future. Nacho is a great lad and player and he will do Morton a good turn but I think the fans want to see Craig Wighton progress.”