Peterhead manager Jim McInally will welcome a familiar face to Balmoor on Saturday, July 2 when Dundee visit as he has known recently appointed Dens Park boss Gary Bowyer for nearly 30 years.
The Blue Toon and the Dark Blues will face each other in a Friendly Match that will kick-off at 2.00pm with Jim saying: “I first met Gary when he was 12 as I played with his dad Ian at Nottingham Forest.
“I was down there living on my own and Ian would take me to his family home every now and again and he was always telling Gary to go out and play football in the garden. I have remained close to the two of them and I was delighted to see Gary get the job at Dens Park.”
Bowyer was appointed earlier this month and Jim reckons his experience of managing sides including Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bradford and Salford City will be pivotal to succeeding in the Championship with the Dark Blues.
Jim said: “Gary is a very solid and pragmatic manager who will play a style that suits the strength of his players. He has great experience and he will study opponents in depth and use that knowledge to affect how Dundee play.”
“The big thing for Dundee is they have a manager who is used to being at a big club. He was at Blackburn and Salford where he had to deal with a lot of pressure and that will stand him in good stead at Dundee.”
“They will be a target for other clubs in the Championship and he will know how to manage that.”
“I would expect Gary to bring in some new players as he has an extensive knowledge of the English market that he can tap into.”
Jim added: “I still speak to Ian and I know he takes an active interest in how Gary is doing. I hope Ian can pop up for that game.”
As for his own squad at Peterhead the long-serving manager said: “We are back in training with a mixture of signed players, players who are seeing what life is like at our club with a view to signing and trialists.”
“Trialists will come and go as they usually do in pre-season.”
Jim added: “I am hoping to announce a number of permanent signings over the next week or so.”
Tickets for the game will be available from Thursday, June 23.
