Dundee’s director of football operations John Nelms believes the pieces of the puzzle which will help propel the Dark Blues back into the big time are coming together nicely.
American Nelms was a key part of the consortium that swept into power at Dens Park in August and pledged to turn Dundee FC into a force both on and off the pitch, with the main aim to make a return to Scottish football’s top flight as soon as possible.
And with CEO Scot Gardiner’s decision to stay at Dens despite Rangers’ reported advances bringing greater stability to the club in his eyes, Nelms senses the momentum the Dark Blues are beginning to build.
“The fans here are unbelievably passionate,” he told Courier Sport. “If we’re doing our job and we’re doing the bit we need to do behind the scenes, they see that and they want to be a part of it.
“They help push us to the next level and it was a great atmosphere with over 5,000 fans (against Raith recently). I would love to see what it is like with 6,000 fans so they push the boys to the next level absolutely.
“If we do our jobs and get this club, these players, playing the way we think we can, which is John Brown’s job obviously, I think the fans will support us.
“When we first looked at the club we came to the Dundee v Dundee United derby and the place was absolutely jammed full of people. So we know the fans are here.
“We know if we put a good product on the pitch and we’re working hard that they will come and support their club. That’s our job to do that.
“Obviously fans have got a little bit disenchanted with the club after years of administration and the like, and it’s our job to put the bits and pieces together in order to put the best product we can on the park.”
Building the club up again in terms of the first team, the youth system and improvements to the stadium has been Nelms and his colleagues’ objective since arriving at Dens Park, but there can be no denying the main aim for season 2013/14.
Relegation from the SPL last term undoubtedly hit the club hard but Nelms reckons Dundee belong back in the top flight and has pledged to do what ever he can to help them get there.
And the Texan admits everyone at Dundee wants to gain promotion at the end of this season, despite the potential cash benefits the 2014/15 Championship is shaping up to bring.
“I think it is important that we get promotion as soon as we can,” he said. “Our phase one goal is to get back into the Premier League.
“Obviously Rangers and probably Hearts will be in the Championship next season and financially that all sounds fantastic. But our goal is to move on to the next level and get into phase two of our plan.”