Derek Soutar admits he couldn’t resist the lure of a return to Dundee.
The 39-year-old is back at Dens Park after answering an SOS call from the Championship club to become their new youth academy goalkeeping coach.
The former Dark Blues ace, who had two stints at the club, took his first session last night and admits he jumped at the chance to help his boyhood idols on a voluntary basis.
He said: “It was a no-brainer for me. Everyone knows what the club means to me.
“When the opportunity was put to me by Rab Geddes and Stephen Wright, I jumped at it.
“After all, I came through the academy myself some years ago so know as well as anyone that it’s the future of the club.
“I’m so excited at the prospect of developing the next generation of goalkeepers. There is a lot of talent there.
“It’s been well-documented how the club has suffered financially in the past few months. It’s not been easy.
“So I’m just happy to do my bit by volunteering and hopefully helping the keepers already here fulfil their potential.”
Soutar reckons James McPake’s men can be a force to be reckoned with in the Championship next season as they target a top-flight return.
He added: “I think Dundee can definitely be challenging.
“Everyone wants to see them back in the Premiership so that will obviously be the aim. Hopefully they can get back to where they belong.”
Last month Dundee cut 16 academy coaches as part of cost-cutting measures implemented as a result of the coronavirus shutdown.
But it is understood 12 are set to continue in their roles for free over the coming months.
