Ally McCoist and Chris Sutton slam Dundee managerial change as Mark McGhee solution branded 'jobs for the boys'

Pundits Chris Sutton and Ally McCoist have both questioned Dundee’s sacking of James McPake and subsequent hiring of Mark McGhee.

The Dens Park club split with 37-year-old McPake on Wednesday before McGhee replaced him the following morning.

That's despite two wins on the bounce as a big away victory at Hearts lifted the club off the bottom of the table before progress in the Scottish Cup at Peterhead.

Former Celtic striker Sutton expressed sympathy with departed manager McPake and questioned the bizarre timing and McGhee's relationship with Dee technical director Gordon Strachan as he branded the appointment 'jobs for the boys'.

Speaking to BT Sport's Scottish Football Extra, Sutton said: "It's really odd, isn't it. Does it feel right, Mark McGhee, Gordon's mate, going in?

"In recent times he's been to Barnet and Eastbourne Borough, has he really paid close attention to Scottish football, does it matter?

"Well, maybe this season it does. Because Dundee are in a relegation battle.

"Just the timing of the sacking, they beat Hearts away and had a decent win at Peterhead, I feel for James McPake, what an odd time to sack him.

"And then the six game ban Mark McGhee has to sit out, you cannot tell me that is ideal for Dundee. There's what, 12 games left and he's going to have to sit out half of them.

"It's a very strange appointment. Jobs for the boys, isn't it."

He continued: "Mark McGhee may go in and be the best manager they've ever had so like any other manager he deserves the opportunity. It just stinks a bit at this moment in time."

And McCoist jumped in to compare the situation to that of Aberdeen and Hibs, neither of whom have seen an upturn in results after sacking Derek McInnes and Jack Ross respectively.

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