He has helped with the development of former Celtic striker Tony Watt and a certain Gary Mackay-Steven in the past – now Jimmy Boyle is confident there are similar young gems ready to make a big impact at Dundee.
The 51-year-old was brought to Dens two years ago by then boss Paul Hartley as head of youth development.
Boyle has been working tirelessly ever since and is seeing definite signs of progress with teenagers such as Matty Henvey, Jack Lambert and Jordan Piggott making their breakthroughs into present manager Neil McCann’s first team this season.
The club’s Under-20s are also currently second top of the Development League and won 5-3 yesterday over Motherwell.
And former Airdrie boss Boyle is confident the future will continue to be bright for Dundee.
He said: “It is very pleasing that people like Jack and Jordan are getting a wee chance because they have worked hard.
“We also have younger ones here like Callum Moore, Max Anderson and Brian Rice who are doing well and progressing with the 20s.
“That gives a chance for the boys at younger levels like Finlay Robertson, Josh Mulligan and Lyall Cameron.
“These boys are also doing well playing in the 20s even last year at 14.
“So when they see lads playing in the first team getting a wee chance, it gives them a gee up to go and say, ‘I want a bit of that’ and know the manager will give young boys the opportunity if they are good enough.
“I think it’s great so sometimes it starts from higher up if the manager is willing to go with younger boys and push them.
“I think the rest of them just follow on.”
Boyle added: “We had a lot of kids coming through when I was at Airdrie.
“I am really big on that. It doesn’t matter how old they are – as long as they are mentally strong, confident and they are good football players, then I will back them to the hilt.
“Age is only a number to me and it is the same with the manager.
“He has been great with me with the 20s. He’s really helped me with whatever I have needed.
“Some of the first-team boys have come down and have been great this year showing good attitude and helping us a lot.
“That has helped the progress of some of the younger boys as well.”
Boyle helped develop Watt and Mackay-Steven when they were with the Diamonds and when asked if he sees players with similar potential coming through at Dundee, he said: “Definitely. I have mentioned young Lyall, Finlay and Josh who are great while Max Anderson and Callum Moore if they continue to progress the way they are going, you can see a real future for them in the first team here in the coming years.
“There are a lot of gems at Dundee all the way up with the kids. So we are happy and we are going places.
“It has taken a wee bit of time so we just have to keep working.”
That work began two years ago next month with Boyle making changes to the overall youth system to make Dundee as attractive as possible to promising young players – a factor that is vitally important in a city with two senior clubs.
Boyle said: “Paul Hartley gave me a call and asked if I would be interested in taking the 20s and heading the youth set-up here.
“It really interested me. I had been out for a wee while working with the SFA so I came up to Dundee, spoke with Paul and took a bit of training before we decided on it.
“We agreed, I got a contract out of it and I was really, really pleased to come and work at Dundee.
“I had a look at the youth set-up and I thought there was a heck of a lot we could go and work on.
“A lot of progress had to be made and we are slowly getting there.
“We needed a bit of change and maybe a different way of thinking.
“We have been very positive in every way with the coaches. We have a lot of meetings and speak all the time.
“We know Dundee is not a big place and to have ourselves and United here, there are not a lot of players to get between the two clubs.
“So we have to try at a very young age, the pre-academy all the way up to get the better ones.
“We are working hard at it and we can see there is a slight movement.
“It is not massive and United are still a big force. So we need to keep working hard at that to make people and kids in Dundee – especially Dundee supporters – come to the club rather than go to United.”
