Dundee chief executive Scot Gardiner says the results since John Brown took over at Dens were the deciding factor in the club board deciding to award him the manager’s job on a permanent basis.
The Dark Blues have only lost one of the seven league games they have played under Brown’ supervision and while they are still odds-on favourites for the drop, Gardiner insists that the reversal of fortunes has been nothing short of amazing.
He said: “John’s results since he took over have been phenomenal. They have probably been better than we could have hoped for. If someone had said when he came in that we would only lose one of the next seven, nobody would have believed that.
“The vibe in the place is fantastic now from the Under-20s right through to the first team.”
Brown’s initial appointment as interim boss to succeed the sacked Barry Smith was met with howls of protest by supporters and media pundits.
However, Gardiner insists he does not feel vindicated over the decision to draft in “Bomber” and instead is just grateful for the boost he has given everyone on and off the park at the club.
He said: “I thought I knew what I was doing and the board was supportive of that so it is not a case of vindication. Difficult decisions had to be made so I am not going to sit here and tell you, ‘I told you’.
“To lose Barry was extremely difficult so it would have been hard no matter what happened. So it is not a case of being vindicated. We felt John would do the right thing and help the club. He’s gone beyond that.
“We are just delighted that he has been successful. We have hospitality against Hearts nearly full and the same next week and the week after. So there is a better feel around the place and he deserves the opportunity.”
Dundee were inundated with applications after Smith’s departure and Gardiner admitted that the club had kept in contact with a short list during Brown’s interim time in the Dens hot-seat.
However, he said it soon became clear there was only one man for the job.
He said: “I spoke to some of the people who applied for the job on the morning John came in (as interim boss). Since then, we have kept in touch with them and we spoke to the Managers’ Association about how we would get the message out with regards to bringing in others for interview.
“We have had over 40 applications. The board have looked at that list and we were discussing it every week.
“We have had conversations with those candidates but results speak for themselves and there is no point in wasting people’s time.
“So there were no formal interviews but there were discussions throughout, even until a week ago.”
Most players at Dens are on 12-month deals but Gardiner explained why the club wanted to give Brown a two-year contract.
He said: “The board are projecting for the future and a more stable, secure club and you can’t do that if you give a one-year contract.
“The two-year deal gives both parties security and it lets people know you are serious about things. The board felt that was the way to go.”