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New Dundee manager Tony Docherty’s in-tray – first things on the agenda to begin Dens rebuild

The Dark Blues have chosen Docherty as the man to replace Gary Bowyer for the return to the Premiership.

Dundee manager Tony Docherty. Image: Craig Williamson/SNS
Dundee manager Tony Docherty. Image: Craig Williamson/SNS

Dundee’s new boss Tony Docherty is getting settled into life as a first-team manager.

The long-time assistant to Derek McInnes has ventured out on his own for the first time.

But he’s no stranger to the city and spoke well on his unveiling at the club’s Gardyne training centre.

The 52-year-old has a big job on his hands to get the Dark Blues ready for their return to the Premiership.

So, what are the first things on the agenda for the new Dundee manager?

Contracts

Job No 1 is to secure the futures of the existing Dundee squad.

There are 17 senior players out of contract in the next few weeks, all of whom have just given their CV a tidy polish by winning a league title.

No doubt as soon as the prospect of the job came to Docherty’s attention he was already picking out which players he wants to keep and which he’ll let go.

And he’s already said talks have begun.

A good sign because these players have other offers. They are proven winners.

Lyall Cameron, pictured lifting the title trophy, is already signed up for next season. Image: SNS.
Lyall Cameron is already signed up for next season. Image: SNS.

One in the shape of Ian Lawlor has already bade farewell to the Dark Blues, heading back to his former club Doncaster Rovers.

There is a freedom for a manager coming into a situation like this, the squad will very much be his own.

But there’s a lot of work to do to secure that squad.

And there is a winning mentality in the Dundee dressing-room – they’ve just tasted silverware and would no doubt like a bit more.

Keeping that sort of spirit in the building will be important.

How many stick around, though, will be up to ‘Doc’.

Signings

The squad will be very different come the start of next season, that much is clear.

We’ll have to wait to see what percentage of the Dens Park squad sticks around.

But it’s obvious there will be a big influx of new signings.

Players Docherty wants, has kept an eye on over the years, has worked with before and can fit into the system he sees the team playing.

Tony Docherty was unveiled as the new Dundee manager on Monday. Image: Craig Williamson/SNS
Tony Docherty was unveiled as the new Dundee manager on Monday. Image: Craig Williamson/SNS.

We could be talking double figures for arrivals over the close season, depending on how many of last year’s Championship winners stick around.

And there’s no head of recruitment in place at Dens Park after Gary Ogilvie left in the wake of Gary Bowyer’s sacking.

This will be an old-school managerial job for the new boss in terms of bringing in new faces.

Fans

An early job for any new boss is to win over the fans of his new club.

On most occasions, that’s an easy one to tick off – supporters want their team to succeed and a fresh manager brings fresh optimism of better times to come.

This, though, is a much more nuanced situation at Dundee.

The Dens Park fanbase remains a bit perplexed at things going on at their club.

Dundee fans watch on at Ochilview as their team win the Championship title. Image: SNS.
Dundee fans watch on at Ochilview as their team win the Championship title. Image: SNS.

Just days after their big celebrations following the Championship success, suddenly there was no manager or head of recruitment and a host of players out of contract.

And Docherty’s arrival was a surprising one as well.

Following a manager who has just won a league and Manager of the Year before being harshly turfed out is a tough act to follow.

The job for any new boss is to show they are an improvement on what went before.

The task for Docherty is to show the ruthlessness of John Nelms brought a positive outcome.

Create a team

Getting early wins may be easier said than done, however.

If the number of new signings moves into double figures it will take a lot of work and no doubt some time to gel them into a competitive team.

A new manager, new backroom staff, new players and a new atmosphere around the training ground will mean a lot of adjustment for a lot of people.

Tony Docherty met the media on Monday at his unveiling as Dundee manager. Image: Craig Williamson/SNS.
Tony Docherty met the media on Monday at his unveiling as Dundee manager. Image: Craig Williamson/SNS.

Changes will happen fast over the summer months but integration is often a slow process and will likely bring teething problems.

It’ll be up to Docherty to mitigate those and deal with them.

At the same time as getting results.

There is a lot to like about the job in hand – a chance to build your own squad almost from scratch with club bosses investing all their faith in you.

But there is also pressure to get things going quickly.

Tony Docherty can do nothing else now but get to work.

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