Dundee manager Paul Hartley maintains he did not see his move for striker David Clarkson as a gamble – but has been pleasantly surprised the signing has paid handsome dividends so far.
The former Motherwell man has scored in every single one of the eight competitive games he has played in since putting pen to paper on a contract at Dens in early September, and has certainly proved any doubters wrong about his goal scoring ability.
Some people had questioned Clarkson’s prowess in front of goal after disappointing spells down south, while the likes of Kilmarnock and St Johnstone both passed on the opportunity to sign the 29-year-old during pre-season trials.
But while some pundits may have seen a move to Dundee as a risk, Hartley has been more than happy to see the striker repay the club’s faith in him.
“I didn’t see it as a gamble, I thought it would work for us – all he had to do was get fit,” Hartley told Courier Sport.
“The board realise now it was well worth it and we hope to keep David for a longer period of time than he’s here for at the moment.
“The thing with my board, they’re very good.
“Everything that I’ve asked for so far, they’ve come up with.
“We understand the financial situation at most Scottish clubs but the board have been terrific, so I can’t thank them enough.”
Many chairmen might have decided against a move for the former Scotland international on purely financial grounds, but Hartley stressed that he did not have to sacrifice anything in order to bring the clearly in-form forward to Dens Park.
“The board basically didn’t know a lot about him, probably because he was without a club for a long period of time,” he added.
“I’m not sure why nobody decided to take him but I’m grateful that he has come in and justified it.”
Hartley was present at Monday’s Scottish Cup fifth round draw which paired the Dark Blues with Celtic, and the Dundee boss took the time to have a chat with Scotland manager Gordon Strachan while at Hampden.
Strachan was in the crowd to see Dundee beat Aberdeen, as was former Aberdeen and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, although Hartley revealed he missed the chance for a chin wag with the latter after his side’s cup win.
“Sir Alex was at the game and away,” he explained.
“I knew he was coming but we had to keep it sort of hush-hush.
“It would have been nice to have a chat with him, given what he has achieved, although I’ve always got Gordon to lean on.
“Gordon enjoyed the game and has been to see us a few times I think he enjoys the brand of football we’re playing, a good, open and attractive team.
“We’ve got some good quality players and we’re there to entertain.
“So I can always call Gordon or speak to Craig Brown, they’re always there for advice, although I’m my own man.
“I like to do things my way and I think you learn that way too.”