Dundee: Board to discuss manager Barry Smith's future

By Jim SpenceBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments15

Dundee manager Barry Smith

Dundee manager Barry Smith's future will be discussed at a board meeting later this week.

It is understood that no decision has been taken at the moment regarding the 38-year-old's position, but the matter will be on the agenda at the meeting.

The news emerged left Dundee nine points adrift at the foot of the Scottish Premier League.

Smith said afterwards he hoped to be given money to strengthen his side.

"The board have intimated that there'll be money there to spend," he told BBC Scotland. "How much I don't know.

"Obviously we need to bring in players to boost the squad and bring in a wee bit more quality."

Former Celtic, Dundee and Valur defender Smith has been Dundee manager since 2010.

A Dundee fan with a banner displaying the message 'Smith Must Go!'
Smith is under pressure from some Dundee fans

They finished last season as runners-up in Division One but were brought into the Scottish Premier League at late notice, replacing Rangers with the Glasgow club heading for liquidation.

And the Dens Park boss felt his side lacked a "killer touch" in the Tayside derby defeat but was still pleased with the effort of his players.

"I still think we've got quality here, we just need a wee bit more in depth," he added.

"I'm definitely still getting all the work-rate and I know the players are working hard.

"No-one likes to be in this position. We've been through a lot of hard times at Dundee and this is just another one.

"But I'm up for the fight and I'm up for the challenge and I'll make sure that I give everything I've got to make sure we stay in this league."

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15 comments

  • Comment posted by Ratz, at 17:19 3 Jan 2013

    Gotta say some realistic & decent comments here & must agree, Keep Barry he will come good. We need to offload these injury prone players brought in, they are being paid good money & have contributed practically Zero to the team. We may go down but we will return

  • Comment posted by dd23, at 09:39 4 Jan 2013

    Re Stillbuzzin, confused as to what Barry Smith's future has to do with where the new Rangers club were going to play their football, but regarding the said Rangers, your last sentence sums up the situation very well.

  • Comment posted by Stillbuzzin, at 07:34 4 Jan 2013

    Dundee got Rangers' SPL share for precisely the same reason that the SPL tried to force Rangers into SFL1; money.
    Dundee derby more lucrative than what Pars could bring.
    Clearly an embarrassment, even to a woeful SPL, and deserve every horsing they get for their greed.

  • Comment posted by U15122369, at 18:15 3 Jan 2013

    The team are not doing well but every manager has problems from time to time - just look at Martin O'Neil recently. We should show Barry some loyalty and support him through the poor results - time and time again knee-jerk managerial changes have failed for Dundee FC - we need stability!!

  • Comment posted by dfclad, at 17:31 3 Jan 2013

    I'm horrified the fans and board could even think about getting rid of Smith after the mess he inherited from Chisolm/Dodds after administration. The current squad is nowhere near strong enough for the SPL but that's not Barry's fault. He needs to stay and build upon the progress that has been made since the dark days of administration.

  • Comment posted by John_B81, at 17:24 3 Jan 2013

    Dundee probably shouldn't have been promoted given there's no promotion place for Div One (though there should be or at least a playoff) and Dunfermline should've stayed when Rangers went to Div 3. Fact is, with less than four weeks notice on what league they were in, it was always going to be very difficult staying up, that's not the gaffers fault. Would be disgraceful to sack Smith

  • Comment posted by U15559607, at 16:55 3 Jan 2013

    need to stick with barry, we have set up to try and win the 1st division and we all know it would be hard in the SPL. Need to get behind team but could do with someone to put ball in the net.

  • Comment posted by U14846821, at 14:24 3 Jan 2013

    Talk about short-sighted.... the club were set up to play in 1st Division and paying 1st Division wages for 1st Division players .... and guess what? they are struggling in the SPL. Any club would be in the same position if they'd been in Dundee's place.
    The fans and the board need to back the manager, back the team and keep it all in context. Everyone is doing their best.

  • Comment posted by Eddies Gonna Get Ya, at 13:59 3 Jan 2013

    Think they should stick with him for now. Sure, they'll probably go down, but what did they expect? IF they go down, hopefully they will have a bit more experience and will be better prepared to jump straight back up and stay up!

  • Comment posted by Dundee Birdman, at 13:55 3 Jan 2013

    I think its a disgrace if they sack Barry due to the current league position. Its not really his fault that the club are there. If anyone is to blame then its the SFA\SFL for their handling of the Rangers fiasco. One thing though that I would do personally is get a better goalie because imo Rab Douglas is well past his best and is to blame for a lot of the goals that the team has conceded.

  • Comment posted by roddybis, at 10:36 3 Jan 2013

    Smith must stay. I think we should save our money for next season as it is looking less likely that we can stay up. There is no shame in going down this season given the last minute promotion. However, a few wins and we might stay up - we have nothing to lose now.

  • Comment posted by U15555593, at 10:16 3 Jan 2013

    The whole Club 12 thing was a shambles and it was a poisoned chalice going up with a couple of weeks notice. Dundee were closer in points to a relegation spot that they were to Ross County and were nowhere near ready for the SPL. The fans are being ridiculous if they are blaming Smith for the clubs position in the league and the board even worse if they succumb and sack him.

  • Comment posted by U5806183, at 10:11 3 Jan 2013

    typical kneejerk reactioning by a Dundee support who would do well to remember where we were this time a year and a half ago. Get a grip. We were thrown into this position by default, had one week to prepare and had to bring in 8 players with Premier experience most of whom are crocked now. BEHAVE!

  • Comment posted by Jbob, at 09:54 3 Jan 2013

    I agree totally. The gulf between the SPL and the First has widened and Dundee are not an SPL club at present. There is a chance here to take the experience and re-group in the First Division next year with a more savy group of players and Management .

  • Comment posted by PaulPaps, at 08:41 3 Jan 2013

    I think it's absolutely ridiculous to consider his position, Dundee were only put up because of the Rangers debacle and didn't have much time to prepare. Yes, Dundee look likely to still go down, but would changing the manager halfway through the season do anything positive? They should judge him this time next year, see where he is.

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