Dundee boss Steven Pressley admits fans are right to be unhappy about the dismal results from the start of his time in charge – but wants them to have patience and perspective.
The manager, who was a surprise choice to replace Tony Docherty, has begun his reign with back-to-back 1-0 defeats, against Championship side Airdrie and League One’s Alloa Athletic in the Premier Sports Cup.
The Dark Blues now face Bonnyrigg Rose on Tuesday and Montrose on Saturday, knowing they have no chance of progress in the competition but aiming to lift the mood around the club.
“Like any manager after a result like that, I’m disappointed,” Pressley said when asked about Saturday’s defeat to Alloa. “Although we’re certainly in the rebuild stage, I still think with the group of players that we had out that we have to do better.
“I take full responsibility for that.
“But I am also one that tries to bring context and perspective to everything. I understand where we are and we’ve got so much work to do.”
Pressley is keen to add new players to his squad sooner rather than later, and aims to improve those he has, but he admits that the rebuild is no small task.
“If I’m being honest, it’s probably a bigger challenge than I envisaged,” he said. “I understand that now and we’ll work tirelessly hard to try and put things right.
“But it’s not going to happen overnight.”
He is eyeing a big improvement between now and the first Premiership match on August 3.
“Our real objective now is to get that momentum and really focus on how we can be prepared for the Hibernian game,” he said. “We have to start the season in the right fashion and try to gain that momentum.
“It takes time and the players have been receptive and have been working very, very hard.
“But again, perspective: where we are in the process, it’s going to take time.
“That’s evident but I think we have to be in a place where we can be highly competitive in the Hibernian game.
“That’s important, that we can go into that game believing we can get a result.”
Patience is rare in football and there have been plenty of Dundee supporters who were unhappy with Pressley’s appointment to begin with, as others also voice their displeasure about the rocky start.
Asked for a message to reassure fans, the manager said they were within their rights to be unhappy but that trust in the process would help.
“We are trying at present to find the solutions,” he said. “And to show, I know it’s difficult at time, to show an element of trust in us that we will get there because it is very early.
“But I’m also a realist. I understand that any adverse results bring negativity.
“That’s how football is and I’m never going to change that.
“The message to supporters isn’t that they shouldn’t vent that. That’s normal.
“It’s just to understand and have some perspective as to where we are, moving forward.”
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