New Dundee boss Steven Pressley says 'I’m a better leader after break from management'

Steven Pressley understands why some Dundee fans were unhappy with his appointment as head coach but believes he will be a better leader for his time away from the front line.

The club’s selection of the former Rangers, Dundee United, Hearts, Celtic and Scotland defender was not particularly well received among supporters given Pressley’s previous role as a manager ended when he was sacked by Carlisle in 2019.

For the past four years, the former Falkirk, Coventry, Fleetwood and Pafos manager has been head of individual player development at Brentford while completing a masters degree in strategic leadership.

When asked about the fans’ reaction at his first media conference, Pressley said: “I understand how the business works. The only way to win supporters over is to win and get results. But I am aware there has to be a period of growth before we get success.

“Make no mistake, I am aware we need to win games and we are working extra hard to do so.

“Regardless of if everyone was happy with the appointment, you will be judged in the same way.”

The 51-year-old added: “If you’re a Dundee supporter and you’re looking for a manager with a history of producing titles and winning honours, then I’m not your man. I’m perfectly honest, I’m not your man.

“I’ve not demonstrated that as yet. I hope I can demonstrate that moving forward but my career to date doesn’t suggest that.

“But certainly from a development perspective and certainly from creating a style of play and a way a team performs, I have demonstrated that over the course.

“And I would like to think the four or five years that I have had out of football, not just the education I had at Brentford but I have also been working on my university career, all of those in the mix I hope brings a different type of leadership than I gave before.

“Hopefully with that leadership we can bring some form of success.”

Pressley feels the stint at the Premier League club has given him a refined perspective.

“It was a great role in terms of education and understanding, and allowed me to form really strong relationships with personnel and get to know the players,” he said.

“Sometimes when we go through the transition from being a player to manager, we forget the difficulties of being a player.

“Being a football player is a hard journey. There’s so much vulnerability about it, there’s so much disappointment, so much pressure around the job.

“Working with the players very closely reminds me of just how difficult that journey can be.

“It’s really important that we have that type of culture within this club where you can be vulnerable, we are going to support each other and help each other, we are going to make you better.

“I want to be a manager where my players feel they can come to me and speak on issues that they have, and they’re not scared to do so. The role has allowed me to develop in that way. It’s allowed me to develop my softer side in many ways, and hopefully that will benefit me.”