JIM McIntyre would never seek sympathy over his controversial Ross County sacking, but he says it was easier to stomach as everyone knew he should not have been axed.

The new Dundee boss is back in the dug-out just over a year after being shown the door in the Highlands by County chairman Roy McGregor despite leading the Staggies to their first major piece of silverware.

McIntyre, 46, has bided his time since his shock Dingwall departure which came after three years in the hot seat, with the obvious highlight being their historic 2016 League Cup final triumph over Hibs at Hampden.

The former Dundee United striker, who has been charged with moving Dundee off the foot of the Premiership towards survival, said his sudden departure from Dingwall was made easier by the strong support he had.

“We’re all big boys in the management game,” he said. “We understand how it works. Sometimes you are dealt a sore one. I certainly was.

“Roy [McGregor] has since said what he’s had to say on it and privately I’ve had some great conversations with him. It’s not about poor me at Ross County.

“But it’s easier to accept when it’s widely recognised that it’s a mistake.

“It’s not often when you get the sack that you have managers of a certain ilk who are on the phone right away saying it should never have happened. Not just your friends; managers from out with.

“Generally, you guys [in the press] are the best gauges in terms of what’s fair and what’s not and I never came across any journalist who thought it was going to happen.

“It did take everyone by surprise. You guys, us … but it’s football.

“Roy was a fantastic backer to me for the full term I was there. Somewhere along the line there’s been a bit of trust lost and he’s chosen to make a decision which I have to respect as it’s his money.

“He was a brilliant backer of me while I was there but he chose to change it. It didn’t work out and he had to change it quite quickly again.

“I’m sure, in fact I know for a fact, how he feels about that. He’s been nothing but supportive of me any time I’ve been linked with a job. We still have a very good relationship.”

McIntyre succeeds Neil McCann who was sacked this week, and he is itching to get his Dundee tenure off to a flier away to Livingston tomorrow.

“The club’s ambitious,” he said. “There are plans in place to move to a state of the art training facility and much more. That’s maybe a couple of years down the line but [managing director] John Nelms was very impressive.

“One of the things I learned from Roy McGregor was that your club needs to be right at the top. I’ve been very lucky in my last two jobs at Queen of the South and Ross County where they’re both tip-top at the top.

“If that’s the case, then your manager has got every chance of having success.”