Pail Hartley has revealed that one of the first people to congratulate him on his appointment as new Dundee boss was the man he replaced John Brown.
Hartley, who left Alloa last month stating he had taken the part-time club as far as he could, also echoed the sentiments of club chief executive Scot Gardiner in dismissing any conspiracy theories over his appointment.
The former Scotland star insists he is just itching to get started with his new players with the crunch Championship clash with Hamilton on Saturday looming large and to help Dundee win automatic promotion.
The new Dens manager said: “I got a text from John Brown today, wishing me all the best for the job. That was a really nice touch. So I do want to put the conspiracy theories to bed.
“People say there’s something in it when I leave Alloa then, two or three weeks later, I walk into a full-time job at Dundee. I left the club of my own accord, nothing else.
“It was a really nice touch by John to text me. And he did well. Despite being under pressure, they’re still lying second in the league. It’s up to me to get them over that line.
“You always have sympathy when someone loses their job. I’m now employed to get this club to the Premiership. And they want to get there they’re not one of those clubs waiting on Rangers and Hearts to get into the league.”
Hartley said one of his first jobs will be to instil self-belief in a group of players who conceded a last-gasp equaliser against Alloa at the weekend and left the field with the boos of the fans ringing in their ears.
He also stressed the fact he becomes the ninth manager at Dens in the last 13 years did not put him off accepting the job.
Hartley said: “I see it as a challenge. I’m quite fortunate to have been in the same league as Dundee this season, so I know they’ve got a good group of players and they’re in a great position.
“But it’s going to be a lot of hard work the players have taken a lot of criticism over the past few months. Hopefully we can give them that confidence and belief. They’ve got a great opportunity to win the league.”
When asked if he felt taking the job was a risk for him, he said: “It didn’t come into my thoughts. It’s a great opportunity at a good club. Talking about the potential, the fans are already there. We just need to play in a certain way that will excite them.
“The expectation is to win the league. That’s why I’m here. I felt it was the right opportunity. I feel I can do well here. And, of course, you want to get back in. There are a lot of good managers out of work.
“Dundee identified me as the man they wanted. When you are out of the game, it’s harder to get back in.
“But I took a massive gamble when I left Alloa. You’ll have the conspiracy theories, but I left a club of my own accord.
“It doesn’t worry me that Dundee are always expected to win the league. It’s something that I’ll relish. I’ve come into a team at the top end of the table and that is more pressure, yeah, I realise that.
“All the talk at the start of every season is about Dundee being clear favourites to win the title, because they’ve got the biggest budget and biggest squad.
“I need to get a winning mentality into this squad and try to play a certain style of football. We’ll have to identify that quickly.”
Hartley admitted that his players also have to deal with the burden of expectation better, especially when they are in front of their own fans at Dens.
He said: “I think they’ve got to try to handle playing here. I’ve been here already this season and there is a fear factor in this group of players.
“The fans have high expectations. The players have to play under that pressure and play without fear.
“My job is to get rid of that fear factor and teach them to handle the pressure.
“I want to build an attacking team who play positive football, get the fans excited by a team who will entertain.
“It’s a cracking game to start with. I watched Hamilton last week. I went with my wee boy.
“I know the league, I know the teams. But every team wants to come here because they see Dundee as a scalp.”