Paul Hartley appreciates Gordon Strachan's Cove Rangers pick me ups but mentorship will pause for Dundee clash
Hartley rates Strachan as the best boss he's worked under as he prepares to face former club this weekend.
Paul Hartley has admitted Gordon Strachan is the best boss he has ever worked under and been a mentor to him throughout his management career.
Strachan is now director of football at Dundee and Hartley takes his Cove Rangers team to Dens Park in the Championship on Sunday. Hartley acknowledged that Strachan has been a big influence on him and more importantly he has this witty way of making people laugh when they are down or in need of a lift. Hartley admitted: “I spoke to Gordon on Wednesday night - he’s overseeing mainly the academy and their new training base.
“He’s important with his experience in the game and someone I still speak to a lot. If things aren’t going well on my side, he’s someone I can pick the phone up to. He can make you laugh, which is something you’re always guaranteed with Gordon. He’s the best manager I’ve worked under.”
Hartley knows the former Scotland has such a wealth of knowledge and it would be madness for Dundee and Scottish football not to make full use of it. He claimed: “It’s his knowledge of football. He played until he’s 40 and you just have to look at the club he’s managed and played for. His coaching was unbelievable. But he’s got another side to him.
“He’s very witty and I love his company. He’s one of the people you take to once you’ve worked with him. I’ve kept that relationship and working with him was brilliant.
“Every manager goes through it. Hopefully I can be a mentor to some other managers coming through. It’s when you go on a run of bad results or lose your job. He knows the situation managers go through now.”
Dundee are amongst the favourite to make an immediate return to the Premiership. Former Dee boss Paul Hartley has been impressed with Gary Bowyer’s team but will be looking to back up last week’s win at Partick Thistle with three points on Tayside.
“I’ve no doubt they’ll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season,” Hartley predicted. “They’ve got a top manager in Gary. It’s about us going there with a good game plan to try to carry out.
“The first away win in the league (at Partick Thistle) It lifts everybody. A clean sheet away from home and the first away win of the season - it was really pleasing and the players are in good spirits.”
Former Yeovil Town winger Gime Toure could make his debut after finally getting clearance while Hartley is still keen to add a central defender and striker. Hartley said: “I expect him to bring creativity. Technically he’s a very good player. He can score goals and has a good presence about him. He’s got good experience playing in England.
“I’ve been doing extra work with him, just to get him up to speed as quickly as we can.”
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