Tony Docherty ‘overwhelmed’ by award nomination for maiden Dundee season

Dundee boss Tony Docherty revealed he was “overwhelmed” with pride to be nominated for the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year award in his first season since branching out on his own.

The 53-year-old only began life in management last summer when he was appointed by the Dark Blues after previously being a long-time assistant to Derek McInnes at St Johnstone, Bristol City, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.

Docherty – who has led newly promoted Dundee into the top six in the cinch Premiership – will be vying with Killie boss McInnes and Falkirk manager John McGlynn for the manager of the year award, with the winner announced on Sunday.

Docherty admitted to being “honoured” that his fellow bosses have acknowledged the job he has done in his first season at the helm.

“When it’s your first year in management, to get recognition from your peers is a massive thing for me,” he said at a media briefing on Wednesday. “From people who are in the job and know the difficulties and challenges of being a football manager.

“I had a lot of experience as an assistant manager but when you come into the job as a manager, I came in with all of the energy of a new manager and tried to combine that with my experience.

“You just work away on a daily basis and I had to assemble a staff and group of players, so to get the recognition for that from my peers is an overwhelming, brilliant feeling. I’m really, really thrilled.

“There are a lot of fantastic managers in Scotland and a lot who didn’t get picked who you might have thought probably should have, so for me to be nominated, it’s a great privilege.”

Docherty’s season could get even better if he can lead Dundee into Europe for the first time since 2003. That could be achieved if they climb above St Mirren and claim fifth place. The sixth-placed Dark Blues are currently two points beneath the Buddies ahead of Saturday’s showdown between the teams on Tayside.

“It’s a product of how well both clubs have done all season, we’ve got ourselves into the top six and I’d argue both clubs are punching above our weight,” said Docherty.

“We’re going to be facing each other with a fantastic motivation, an opportunity to experience European football which both clubs have not had for a number of years.

“I was very pleased when this fixture came out as a home fixture for us.”

Docherty confirmed that Dundee plan to upgrade their pitch this summer after the club was criticised for five postponements due to waterlogging earlier this season.

“It is great the club are making that commitment and the players are buzzing with that as well,” he said.

“I am greatly relieved to hear that we will be playing on a really good surface next year and it is something that will help our playing style.”