Dundee appoint former Bristol Rovers boss as manager - but he won’t be able to take charge of first six games

Ex Bristol Rovers boss Mark McGhee has been appointed as manager of Dundee - but he won’t be able to manage them straight away.
Mark McGhee managed Bristol Rovers just under a decade ago but his time as boss was short. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)Mark McGhee managed Bristol Rovers just under a decade ago but his time as boss was short. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)
Mark McGhee managed Bristol Rovers just under a decade ago but his time as boss was short. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)

Dundee have made the move to appoint former Bristol Rovers boss Mark McGhee until the end of the season.

James McPake was sacked on Wednesday, despite overseeing two wins in their last two matches, with the team a point off the bottom of the table in the Scottish Premiership.

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The Dees have now looked to McGhee, who has spent most of his managerial career in Scotland to change their fortunes around.

He won’t be able to take charge straight away as he will have to serve a six game ban after earning it at Motherwell in March 2017.

It is expected that his coaches Simon Rusk and Dave Mackay will manage the team from the dugout whilst McGhee will be able to direct orders from the stands. He will have to be out of the dressing room 75 minutes before a game and may be able to pass on words of encouragement to pass on to his players at half-time.

“I keep wanting to prove myself. I keep wanting to prove people right, I keep wanting to prove people wrong,” said McGhee on his appointment.

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“The day I stop feeling like that is the day I stop doing it. I’m up for the challenge of proving I can do this. That is my motivation.

Asked what he was doing whilst spending time away from football, he said: “I have not applied for any jobs, I have been doing bits and pieces of other stuff. But I realise I’m not a businessman, I’m a football manager.”

McGhee spent just under a year at Bristol Rovers. Being appointed in January 2012, McGhee took Rovers from relegation contenders to comfortably mid-table in just half a season.

The following year, with high expectations surrounding the manager, he failed to live up to the season before. Being in a relegation scrap in December, his final game in charge was against York City in a 4-1 defeat before he was swiftly sacked.

Since his sacking with Rovers, McGhee has gone on to have spells as Scotland assistant, Motherwell, Barnet, Eastbourne Borough, Stockport County assistant and now Dundee.

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