Ex-Ger Neil McCann has explained how his long-standing love of the club he started his career with was a key factor in his decision to ease out of Sky TV’s ‘comfy chair’ and into the Dundee hot seat.

The 42-year-old former Scotland midfielder’s longest playing stint was at Rangers, but he first made his name at Dens Park as a 17-year-old a quarter of a century ago and returned there at the end of his career for a crucial stint in their successful bid to avoid relegation six years ago.

He consequently believes he is the man to rally things at Dens Park after a catastrophic run of seven successive defeats that has seen the club plunge from the Premiership’s top six to occupying the relegation play-off spot.

“I hope the fans know what the club means to me,” said McCann.

“That is the reason I am sitting here and not in my seat in the Sky set-up is because I have a love of the club and I believe I can make a difference. Time will tell whether that is true or not but that is my belief.”

He expressed no doubt that he was up to the job, however, despite his backroom experience having been limited to a stint as assistant manager at Dunfermline.

“I am massively confident,” said McCann.

“I am not going to kid anyone on and say it is going to be easy because it won’t. The other clubs around us will have that same mentality but the only thing that matters is when you cross that white line.

“The guys have been close and haven’t been able to get that win but all it takes is one win and then the confidence will rise.

“The squad will then start to take a few more risks because I know what it is like when confidence is down you don’t take a risk or try the killer pass.

“It is my job to bring out the confidence and to get us the points to get us away.”

As he prepares for his first game in charge at Motherwell at the end of the month he also reckons he need only remind the players of how they did on their last visit there when they were 5-1 up at half-time.

“They’ve gone to Fir Park already this season and come away with a handsome victory, so if they need to look for inspiration or proof that they’re capable of getting the results required they only have to dig a DVD out or rewind the footage of that and watch it,” said McCann.