McCann, Miller and sacking managers

If we are going to be fair to Neil McCann (I realise this is not a necessity), he produced a remarkable turnaround when appointed manager at Dundee in April last year.  Paul Hartley had them heading for relegation before the then Sky Sports panellist turned escapologist.

Eight games into the new season and Dundee are bottom on three points, 12 adrift of newly promoted Livingston, whom they face on Saturday.  Dundee United are suffering in the Championship but the appointment of Robbie Neilson brought a win on his first game at the weekend, raising the spectre that United could go up and Dundee down this season.

There are good reasons to change a manager during a campaign, but poor results alone is not one of them.  We have been here in the past.  Before you jump off a cliff, you need a good idea where you are going to land and that that place is more appropriate than the cliff edge.

There is a chance the Dundee board have agreement with a replacement they are confident in, but there’s also a chance they spent the international break squabbling and now decided to act out of fatigue.

Livingston sacked player-manager Kenny Miller two league games into his tenure, when it was plain to all at Celtic Park on the opening day of the season that his body language to team mates could be interpreted as uniquely challenging.  Since sacking MIller, Gary Holt has been a revelation.  One very wrong decision quickly followed by two very good decisions.

Miller was not sacked for poor results, his only league loss was at Celtic Park, Livingston clearly had other reasons.  Unless Dundee can point to a critical weakness in McCann, and assure themselves that his replacement will be able to avoid this scenario, the sacking will not affect their current trajectory.  Place your bets.