Neil McCann’s sacking as Dundee boss was the result of a direct intervention from the club’s American owner Tim Keyes.
It followed an unsuccessful attempt to appoint McCann’s long-time mentor Jim Jefferies to the Dens Park coaching staff.
It has been confirmed to the Tele the former Hearts and Kilmarnock gaffer Jefferies did hold talks with the Dark Blues for several hours last Friday.
As was hinted in the official statement confirming the departure of the manager and his No 2 Graham Gartland, they came about after the board insisted on an experienced coach being added to the backroom staff.
They were informed of that by managing director John Nelms and, for a time, that could have seen Gartland leave but McCann remain in post.
The manager fought to save his assistant but did suggest close friend and former boss Jefferies would’ve been acceptable to him as a new coach.
That led to the Friday meeting between him, his old boss and Nelms but ultimately an agreement could not be reached on the 67-year-old quitting his job as director of football at Edinburgh City and coming to Dens.
McCann, Nelms and big boss Keyes then considered other alternatives but none were suitable to all parties and the result was Tuesday night’s parting of the ways.
The decision only came late in the day following a call from Texas and after most players and staff at Dens were long finished and had headed home.
Most of them only discovered their club was managerless through social media and the dramatic events being confirmed in a statement on the club website.
The statement read: “The club can confirm that manager Neil McCann has today left the club.
“We have explored alternative options to support the management staff recently but unfortunately these did not come to fruition.
“Assistant manager Graham Gartland has been relieved from his role.
“We would like thank Neil and Graham for their efforts while in charge and wish them all the best for the future.”
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