James McPake relives the day Dundee sacked him as former boss 'devastated' by moment John Nelms swung the axe

James McPake felt numb on the drive home from Dens Park.

After eight years of service as both player and manager, his time at Dundee was up.

Off the back of two wins, he was ruthlessly sacked by the club’s American owners and replaced by Mark McGhee.

He’d already taken training that morning. After a brief goodbye to his staff, McPake emptied his office in a state of shock.

In his own head, he was still gaffer. In reality, he was suddenly unemployed.

Yet a week before, he’d celebrated a 2-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle, more convinced than ever of the club’s Premiership survival.

For most people on the outside, the timing was difficult to comprehend. For McPake, it left him dumbfounded.

Opening the door to his house, youngest daughter Grace was a picture of innocence as she ran to embrace her daddy.

And that’s when the numbness lifted.

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In that moment McPake didn’t just realise that some things are more important than football.

He also knew that he had become so immersed in his first managerial gig that he had been neglecting those closest to him.

This week he enjoyed a family break, feeling relaxed and revitalised.

The Dundee job – and the pressure he was under from the day he was appointed – had