Kevin Holt has revealed the ‘wee guy syndrome’ that led to Neil McCann’s downfall at Dundee.
On Tuesday night the Dundee board announced the sacking of the former Sky Sports pundit with sympathy in short supply from within the game and online from supporters.
Last season McCann had a highly publicised touchline bust up with Tommy Wright but the worst of his temper was reserved for his own players.
Accepting his own failings was too much for the former Dundee boss to handle with his fall-out with Scott Bain the most spectacular.
The now Celtic keeper was the target for McCann’s anger after a defeat away to Hamilton last season.
Bain was dropped from the team then appealed, successfully, to the SPFL over a two week fine as McCann ended his Dens career and sent another rift through the dressing room.
“You never want to see anyone lose their job,” Holt told The Sun. “I still have a lot of friends at Dundee but am I surprised? No, Neil is an emotional character.
“He would lose it after games and then on the Monday he would come in and admit he’d gone too far.
“That kind of passion is not necessarily a bad thing in a manager but he would also fall out with players far too easily in the heat of the moment, like with Scott.
“That led to players who were more than good enough to play every week leaving the club.
“And it’s Dundee who pay the price for that in terms of lost transfer fees or having to pay up guys’ contracts.
“Scott is one of the best keepers in Scotland — the fact he’s at Celtic now tells you that but he left the club for free because Neil fell out with him.
“That happened on more than one occasion and it’s Dundee who end up taking the hit for it.
“So you have to draw the conclusion that his emotional outbursts were not good for the club.”
Last night Dundee announced that Jim McIntyre had taken over as manager.
