Latest from The Courier
The Courier
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Courier
Reality bites for Dundee in Airdrie defeat as Steven Pressley admits 'there is so much work ahead'
Dundee's home defeat to Airdrieonians was a reality check says Steven Pressley. Rhys McCabe's Championship side came out 1-0 winners to take charge of Group C thanks to Chris Mochrie's first-half strike. After a couple of early headers from Billy Koumetio and Luke Graham, Airdrie took control in the first half. First Alex King clipped the crossbar before player-manager McCabe played Mochrie in behind to finish smartly on 22 minutes. From there Dundee huffed and puffed and did create chances but without finding that crucial equaliser. Fin Robertson stung the palms of Cade Melrose before half-time and the goalie pulled off a good save to deny Cesar Garza when one-on-one on the hour. Koumetio then had two headed efforts cleared off the line, both by McCabe, within 60 seconds and debutant Tony Yogane also saw a header saved by Melrose. But there would be no equaliser as Pressley's time in charge began with a defeat met by some boos from the stands at the full-time whistle. 'I didn't expect anything else. For Dundee to lose to Airdrie you have to accept you will get criticised. That's football,' Pressley said post-match. 'There's no excuse for the result, we have to do better. 'The reality is we need to work harder and have to improve in so many ways. 'I'm really disappointed to lose the game but over the piece we probably didn't do enough. 'What it highlighted is that there is so much hard work ahead of us. 'If we were under any illusions just how much work we have ahead of us the evidence is there today. 'We have worked on certain aspects on the training ground, there have been 19 days and we've given them a lot of information. 'At times today there were signs of it but others we were completely out of sync. 'It will take time and a lot of hard work. 'Sometimes when you come in and there is that freshness in a honeymoon period, we think we are ahead of where we are. 'Today there was reality. The real ball came out and suddenly we realised 'wow, we have a lot of work to do'. 'It's the whole package – from the performance to bringing in the right types of players to the physical performance of the team. 'All of those aspects we have to improve on.' Transfer business is clearly needed with Pressley admitting in the lead-up to the game his squad was 'very bare' in certain positions. Midfield in particular needs additions and a lack of creativity was on show in this one. Asked if there would be any new faces coming in before Dundee are next in action at Alloa next weekend. 'It is hard to say. We are trying. We are all pushing trying to find the solutions but it isn't easy,' Pressley added. 'For many of our players they have only played two 45 minutes. There was a rustiness. 'It wasn't just the way the team functioned. That is natural in pre-season. 'We wanted to avoid the result today but it hasn't changed anything. 'We will keep working hard and driving what we have to do.' Defeat leaves Dundee behind Airdrie and Alloa in Group C – they face the Wasps away next weekend. Carson, Ingram (Wright 64), Astley, Koumetio, Graham, F Robertson, Digby, Garza (Samuels 77), Yogane, Murray, Acquah (Hay 64). McCracken, C Robertson, Donnelly, Galabov, Chespi, Crombie. Melrose, McGinty, Mochrie (Cooper 78), Gallagher (D Williams 83), McStravick (Barjonas 59), Henderson (C Williams 83), McCabe, Ross, McGrattan, King, Armstrong. Hutton, Aird, White, Chisholm, Webster. David Dickinson 2,306
The Courier
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
STEVE FINAN: Why is it costing incredible amount of money to build new Dundee Blackness Road flats?
There is a lot about the knocking down and replacement of flats in Dundee's Blackness Road that I find puzzling. It didn't make sense to demolish the tenements at Nos 219 to 245 in the first place. The stairs, reportedly unsound, could have been replaced and the interiors refurbished, properly insulated, with eco-friendly heating installed. This would have cost a quarter of what the council is about to spend on a rebuild. And the consultation, which found that residents favoured demolition, was bizarrely badly handled too. Landlords were counted as residents. Did no one think to check these people's home addresses? That should have been question one of a 'residents' consultation. Now, after many an unexplained delay, the city is to build 24 new flats at a projected cost of £8.52 million. That works out at more than £355,000 per flat. New flats at Keiller's Rise in Clepington Road are being marketed at £210,000 – that's a £145,000 difference. And, bear in mind, the Blackness Road land didn't have to be purchased. It previously had tenements too, so sewers and services are nearby. And there will likely be VAT exemptions on a rebuild, making the project cheaper than a newbuild. That £355k per flat figure is ridiculous. Exactly what issues are costing such an incredible amount of money? The worst thing about all this is that we'll probably never know the answers. Because Dundee's councillors are too frightened to ask meaningful questions about it. They just accept whatever they are fed by planning officers – yes sir, no sir, three bags full, sir. They are too weak to object or challenge or even murmur. A constituent-focused councillor would be tackling this head on. Such a person would ask questions, dig deep, then explain it all – transparently and honestly – in ways everyone can understand. It is a councillor's duty to do this on behalf of constituents. It is their job to scrutinise planning reports. If they don't do that, they are showing arrogant disrespect for the people who voted them in. They should do it no matter who tries to shut them down. No matter that they aren't toeing the party line. Do we have anyone on the council with the personal integrity to do that? Please, will that councillor step forward? No? No one? Is there not one on the ruling group (because anyone else would be voted down) who thinks constituents deserve better? Do they all believe their party unity is more important than their people? How depressingly unsurprising. Where are you, SNP group councillors? When you are spending so much of Dundee's money, Dundee has a right to know why. The next local elections can't come quickly enough. I keep saying this: I don't care which party you support (personally, I don't like any of them) but vote, I beg you, for individuals who have the character and courage to do the job properly. None of the current councillors do. They whinge if they think they are being insulted, but their backbone wilts when the hard stuff needs done.
The Courier
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Dundee's new coaching roles laid out with attack and defence remits revealed
Steven Pressley admits the high standard of applicants meant choosing his new Dundee assistant was a difficult task. But he's delighted with the addition of Barry Nicholson as his new Dundee No 2 and has revealed the new backroom setup in place at Dens Park. Former Rangers, Dunfermline and Aberdeen midfielder Nicholson started work at Dundee on Tuesday after more than a decade in coaching. The majority of that time was spent at Fleetwood Town, where he worked under Pressley for a short time, before moving to Queen's Park as Callum Davidson's assistant. And Pressley has been delighted to see the changes to Nicholson's coaching since they last worked together. 'I've got to say that I really enjoyed the process,' he said of the search for a new assistant. 'We ended up interviewing four candidates and they were of a really high standard. I mean that. 'The one thing that it confirmed to me is that there's so many young educated coaches out there these days. 'The level of coaching and the level of detail really impressed me. 'I worked with Barry eight years ago and just from speaking to him, his presentation around the themes that we wanted, he's evolved enormously. 'Even in the day-and-a-half that he's been here I can see he's evolved enormously. I'm really pleased. 'I think he's got a really good way with people and players. 'Connections ultimately are one of the key factors but he's got a really good knowledge and of course he's also got real experience of working as an assistant coach. 'When I arrived at Fleetwood, Barry was the development coach. 'He's got good experience in that area and then I brought him up to the first team at the start of the second season. 'I resigned from my position two weeks before the start of the season so I never really got the opportunity to work with him on a consistent basis. 'But as I've said he really impressed in the interview and he's evolved a lot.' In addition to bringing in Nicholson, Pressley appointed Glen Johnson as goalkeeping coach and has moved Scott Paterson up from first-team coach. Asked about the thinking behind that move, Pressley explained: 'I want a very collaborative approach. 'Barry will be very much responsible for the attacking principles and have a real focus on that. 'Scott will have a real focus on the defensive principles of the team. '[Technical manager] David Longwell will have a foot in both camps while also having a real focus on the individual development of the players within that. 'I did want a collaborative approach. I didn't want anybody being ahead of each other and us all working very much together to achieve success. 'It was brought to my attention that Scott's title would be slightly different [to Nicholson's]. That's not what I wanted. 'I wanted a clear collaborative approach.'
The Courier
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Deniz Mehmet sets goals for new season as Dunfermline Athletic target new goalkeeper signing
Deniz Mehmet has spoken of his determination to fight hard for the number one spot at Dunfermline this season. The 32-year-old is currently in possession of the gloves as the Pars hunt for another goalkeeper to add to Neil Lennon's options. It is a similar situation to 12 months ago, when Mehmet was the only signed first-team custodian through pre-season and the Premier Sports Cup group games. The former Dundee United and Falkirk player then started the first three Championship fixtures before being ousted by the arrival of on-loan Celtic youngster Tobi Oluwayemi. Mehmet is fully aware that another goalie will be signed at some point – but he is determined to avoid another season warming the bench. 'I feel I'm in better shape than I was last pre-season,' said Mehmet after Dunfermline concluded their warm-up games with Tuesday's 3-1 win over East Fife. 'I've worked hard over the summer and tried to get myself in the best shape I possibly can be, to give myself a head start and the best possible chance to play this season rather than what happened last year. 'It's expected that we need another keeper. It's only me and young Tam [Thomas Margetts] at the moment, and he's only 16. 'So, it's a position where we definitely need to get another body in. 'I've not had a conversation with the manager, as such. I spoke to him coming towards the end of last season. I had a chat with him then. 'It's just a matter of, I think, coming in, doing your best and then giving yourself the best possible chance to get in that starting XI and stay there.' Asked if the way last season played out had acted as extra motivation this summer, he added: 'Yeah, definitely. I think that's probably helped me work and push myself as much as possible over the summer. 'There's more than one player in each position and everyone's pushing each other. That's where the competition comes from. 'Hopefully, it's a good thing that can happen. So, here we go!' As things stand, Mehmet is in line to start Dunfermline's Premier Sports Cup curtain-raiser against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday. It is a daunting opening to the new campaign, but one he insists the Pars are relishing. 'It's going to be a good occasion, of course. It's the first competitive game,' he said. 'We've been back since the middle of June, so we've worked hard towards it. 'When pre-season starts, it's the one that you work towards and all the hard work goes into that game. 'So, it's one that everyone's going to want to be involved in, definitely. 'It could be good; it could be difficult. We'll see what happens.'
The Courier
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Courier
New Broughty Ferry showroom has £3,000 toilet and £7,500 bath
A new Broughty Ferry bathroom and kitchen showroom is selling a £3,000 toilet and £7,500 bath. Despite the eye-watering price points of some items, Home Improvement Centre owner Maria Inglis says her focus is on 'affordable luxury'. The new business is located on Gray Street, in the former Millars clothing store unit, which shut last year after more than a century of trading. The shop boasts three kitchen displays and eight bathroom bays and offers a full design to installation service. Maria said: 'We have a variety of price points – it's not all top end. We want to be attainable. 'Affordable luxury is what we're going for – everyone should have a nice space to live in.' The heated Japanese toilet on display has the ability to wash and dry. The £7,500 black stone bath in the window has been imported from Italy. It required six people to lift the 220kg bath into the shop. 'The Japanese-style toilets are becoming more popular,' said Maria. 'It is an expensive item – not everyone will put this in their bathroom – but there are people who will go for this. 'It has ambient lighting on the toilet so you don't need to put the bathroom lights on in the middle of the night. 'The bath comes from Aquabella, a Spanish company. They are quite exclusive and expensive, for people who want to have something extra special. 'We've put it in the window to show we're different and not run-of-the-mill. We hope having something spectacular in the window will draw people in to have a look.' Maria, who is married to Ian, said she has a passion for bathrooms and kitchens. She said the kitchens in the business are British-made with an emphasis on innovative storage solutions. She adds: 'I find kitchens exciting. As a mother of three, I feel like I spend my life in the kitchen. 'It's such a valuable space in the home. It needs to look good, but it needs to work for you as a family. It's the heart of the home. 'The Scandi-look is on trend at the moment, with a lot of natural textures and quite clean and minimalist. 'Open shelving is very popular, particularly in smaller spaces as it gives the feeling of more space. 'People are wanting to see a bit of texture in their bathrooms.' Maria said there had been a lot of interest from passing customers as the shop underwent a three-month refurbishment. The couple, who live in Monifieth, have spent more than £160,000 on the refurbishment and stock. Maria, who overcame throat cancer five years ago, said: 'When the premises popped up on Gray Street it was an opportunity not to be missed. 'We have had so many people asking about the shop as the work's been going on. 'We're really excited to open our doors on Saturday.'
