The former Falkirk boss has divided an unimpressed Dees faithful after being named as Tony Docherty's successor
22:30, 17 Jun 2025
Dundee boss Steven Pressley
Dundee boss Steven Pressley
Steven Pressley has urged the Dundee support to show patience as he builds his new Dens line-up.
The former Falkirk boss has been hired to replace Tony Docherty but the news has divided an unimpressed Dees faithful.
Docherty was sacked after last season’s scrape with relegation and Pressley knows he’ll come under major pressure if he doesn’t get off to a flyer.
But Pressley has warned success is unlikely to come quick.
He said: “When I look at a lot of good teams, they generally don't just come together overnight. They're built over a longer period of time.
“Even Brentford this year, if you look at probably three or four of the best performers within the team, they all took a year to 18 months to fully settle within the organisation.
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“So I think that there's some good elements in the respect you can bring in the players, but equally the players are not accustomed to how you work, to the principles that you play to, all of the culture you try to develop.
“So it takes time, it takes time.
“But don't get me wrong, sometimes you just can get the momentum early.
"But I’m well aware that there's some positives around it, about how you can reshape it, but there's also some difficulties around it.”
Former Dundee boss Tony Docherty
Former Dundee boss Tony Docherty
Pressley is back on Tayside having previously played with Dark Blues’ bitter rivals United for three years between 1995 and 1998.
He wore a Tangerine jersey in five derby clashes, winning three of them with the Tannadice side.
Now he’s looking forward to experiencing the clash from a Dees perspective.
Looking back on his derby memories, Pressley said: “Both teams were actually in the Championship initially at that time, and the league was a really strong league, I remember, but they're great events.
“I've watched them on the TV. They're a really good view.
"It's like every derby, the outcome is so important to your supporters, and it'll never change.”
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