Paul Hartley is only a few weeks into his new job as the manager of Dundee however he will lead the Dens Park side in what could easily be called ‘Scotland’s Game of the Day’ tomorrow.
The title chasing Dark Blues visit a Hamilton Accies side that sit at the top of the table courtesy of scoring 9 more goals than Hartley’s men.
Hartley, who guided Alloa to the Third Division title in his first season as a manager in 2012 and then guided them through the Play-Offs last May for a second promotion, is playing things cool in the build-up to a game that could have a huge bearing in the destination of the title.
Hartley said: “I always take things game by game and I will continue doing it that way. Nothing will be decided so we will just treat it like another game.”
The 37 year old is certainly enjoying life in Tayside following his appointment in early February and he said: “My first few weeks at Dundee have been very good. I feel I have settled in well and I have been made to feel very welcome by everyone at the club. The attitude from the players since day one has been spot on and we have made a fair amount of progress.”
“This is a sleeping giant of a club and our aim is to have a really good team on the pitch that wakes everyone up. I am delighted to be back working with full time players however it has probably made my working day longer.”
Hartley was well known for his dedication to his post at Recreation Park and he said: “I worked a lot of hours at Alloa in terms of going to see games and looking at players. That was before I was working with my own players at night and the weekends. At Dundee I have all that as well as working longer with the players but I love it.
“I am delighted with how I have settled in and how well the players have responded to both Tom Ritchie and I coming on board. I was delighted that Ray Farningham and Bobby Geddes were in place and between us all we have managed to take Dundee to 7 clean sheets from 9 games.”
What else has changed Hartley was asked and he said: “We have worked on the shape of the team and introduced just a few little things in terms of the preparation for games. I have brought in the warm up exercises at the side of the pitch which is carried out using elastic cords that worked well at Alloa. I have also cut short half time talks to let the players do more with the cords before the second half begins.”
“We have the ice baths working now as well and spend a lot of time looking at the body fat of each player. To be fair to the players they have taken everything on board. “
The former Scotland midfielder had a head start when it came to getting to know his players as he explained: “I knew a few of them from my playing days as I was with Peter MacDonald at St Johnstone and I played with Craig Beattie and Gavin Rae with Scotland. Nicky Riley and Ryan Conroy were kids at Celtic when I was there and having all these connections helped to get me settled in and moving quickly.”
Hartley is not just looking at this weekend’s trip to New Douglas Park or indeed what will happen between now and the end of the season as he explained: “It is early into my career here and the short term objectives are to win this game and then to get us promoted. Longer term we are already looking at big issues such as improved training facilities and I have been down to England to look at some examples. I have also looked at some training methods used at really big clubs as well in order to keep up to date. “
It is case of working together with clubs as opposed to pinching their ideas with Hartley saying: “We would also like a tie-up with some clubs in England for things like developing their players through joining us either on a loan basis or something else if they don’t make it there.”
Leaving thoughts of the future behind Hartley turned his attention to the present saying: “This is going to be a big game at Hamilton. Both teams are going well in the Championship and we are taking over 2,000 fans down with us so it is huge occasion. However the result will not decide anything, regardless of who wins it or if the game is drawn.”
Hartley has a hat-trick of wins over Hamilton this season already as he explained: “When I was with Alloa I had a good record against Hamilton with two 1-0 wins. I also won my first game when I was the Dundee manager against Hamilton but that does not count for anything now. It will take a very good performance to get the right result from this game.”
“They have not lost since Dundee beat them in my first game. They are scoring goals but we can compete with them as we showed in that game at Dens.”
It is also a trip back to where it all began for Hartley as he explained: “It is the club where it all started for me on a senior basis back in 1993. I started with Hamilton and was there for 3 years before heading to Millwall.”
“It was back in the First Division and they were playing at the old Douglas Park. It is great how well Hamilton have moved on as a club since then with a great new stadium and a very good team.”
“They have a solid defence and they are very good from the middle of the park going forward. They have good attacking midfielders and Jason Scotland has added a lot to their attack.”
Hartley finished by saying: “Alex Neil has done a really good job there in just a year however we have good experienced players at our club as well so it should be a great game.”
.png){kind=logo}
