Mark McGhee ban: Dundee went to SFA as Gordon Strachan influence laid bare

Mark McGhee has revealed that Dundee petitioned the SFA in a bid to have his six-match touchline ban reduced or rescinded before unveiling him as manager on Thursday.

The former Scotland assistant manager has been reunited with Gordon Strachan at Dens Park to replace James McPake, who was surprisingly sacked on Wednesday with Dundee 11th in the Premiership table.

However, he won't be able to take a seat in the dugout until the home game against former club Aberdeen on April 2 due to a suspension dating back to his second spell in charge at Motherwell. This news has been met with dismay by Dundee fans already upset at the timing of managing director John Nelms' decision to oust McPake after two successive wins.

Simon Rusk, McGhee's assistant, will direct matters on the touchline in the meantime alongside Dave Mackay, who has been retained by the Dens Park club.

McGhee acknowledged that without the influence of Strachan – who is technical director at Dundee – it was very unlikely that he would not be in the equation for the manager's post. He has not managed at club level in Scottish football since leaving Motherwell five years ago.

McGhee had a misconduct charge hanging over him at the time. He did not feel it was worthwhile attending the disciplinary hearing since he had already returned to the south coast of England where he lives after parting company with the Fir Park club.

He was handed a six-game ban in his absence after being sent to the stand during a game at former club Aberdeen shortly before he was sacked.

Mobile phone footage of him clashing with home fans as he tried to find a seat in the main stand later went viral. He had been in trouble with the SFA earlier that season after an incident against Dundee at