And, although he defends his decision to replace him with Ivano Bonetti back in 2000, he feels the time is definitely right for the 60-year-old to return.

“If I had been making this appointment, I would have gone for Jocky at least last week and I would have said the time for the change was after the home defeat against Livingston last month,” he said.

“Jocky is a good manager, I have never said otherwise and, even back in 2000 just after he’d left us, when Notts County came on and asked about him, I told them that and they should take him on.

“People are also quick to forget that it was my brother Jimmy and I who brought Jocky back to football when we appointed him and gave him the chance to manage in the SPL again.

“In the circumstances Dundee are in now, he is definitely the best qualified man to take the team up the way.

“He will get them organised and the big thing for me about him is he lives here in Dundee and has Dundee at heart.

“That’s where I think the problems just now started — in the summer we lost boys like Dixon, Robertson and McDonald, who all had the team at heart, and it was the likes of them who carried Dundee last season.”

While it would be wrong to call the pair close, they have buried the hatchet and even worked together for a spell when Jocky returned to Dens to help with coaching.

To this day, Peter does not regret the change he made eight years ago, though it does irk him when words like “sack” are used.

“Jocky was coming to the end of his contract and we asked him, Ivano and (current Real Madrid manager) Berndt Schuster to put forward plans.

“We went with Ivano because we felt it was the best plan and that was that. It was a football decision and, whatever the financial problems we had, I still believe it was the right one. We were trying to take the club forward and enjoy our football, and that’s what we did — we gave fans a dream time.”

Marr, meanwhile, revealed kit manufacturers, his company Bukta, would not make a penny out of Dundee this season.

“We were making good money, but there was not a shirt sponsor so we took that up and, basically, every penny we make now goes back to Dundee. That’s how I want it because I am a fan. I still love the club. I am there every week and that’s why I am happy to see Jocky as manager because he is the right man.

“If I see him tomorrow, I will shake his hand and wish him all the best, because we both want the same thing — Dundee back where they should be.”

He has also now had individual meetings with several players, but is first to admit he is not familiar with most of the names on his squad list.

Accordingly, he will rely heavily on old friend and team-mate, youth coach Gordon Wallace, when it comes to putting together a side for tomorrow’s home clash with fellow-strugglers Airdrie United.

“I’ve got a good ally there in Gordon, who will be a considerable help to me. The team will be based on information that Gordon will give me — we’ve known each other a long time and I trust his judgement.”

Another factor in finalising the line-up will be the injuries that have ravaged the pool so far this term.

Jocky admitted one of the first things that’s struck him is the length of the injury list, though it is something he is determined to cope with.

“What I was reading is correct, it’s horrendous. Right now, I have two goalkeepers and 14 outfield players and, of them, four are under 20.

“That’s not an excuse because you always expect injuries and suspensions through a season and there is no use greeting about it — we just have to get on with it.

“There is a squad of players there and you just hope that, through organisation and determination, you can do well — and we will organise them.”

While, in the long term, his definition of success means getting out of the First Division, initially he will be looking for his men to get back to basics and get away from the bottom half of the table.

“I am not stupid enough to come out and say we are going to do this or that, or we are going to take the league by storm and start winning tomorrow.

“Unfortunately, we are in a position where we have had a run of defeats and I know from experience losing games is a habit the same as winning games is.

“When you start losing, the confidence dips, players stop looking for the ball and, if you lose a goal, they think ‘here we go again’.

“It’s my job to lift things and make sure the players look the other way — that they want the ball and they want to play — and that will get us results.

“The initial thing will be that, if you don’t lose goals, you don’t lose games. If we do that, we can build from there.”

n TOM DUTHIE will be at Dens tomorrow as Jocky Scott returns to the home dugout. Read his in-depth view on proceedings in Monday’s EVENING TELEGRAPH.

The Scotland Under-21 man, however, knows that any drop in his standards will see his rival restored to the team immediately.

“I knew before I came here that Danny was a good player and I have seen that in games and training since I’ve arrived,” said Dixon.

“In training, he works hard and does not let his standards drop just because he isn’t playing, and I know he is ready to take over from me if I am not playing well enough.”

Dixon stresses the rivalry is friendly and put the comfortable manner in which he’s slotted into the United back four down to the help he’s had from the other defenders.

“They are all good to work with and, when I have been on the park, having an experienced pair of centre-halves like Lee Wilkie and Darren Dods just inside has been good.

“That’s helped me settle into the Premier League — it’s a big step up and I’m happy with the way things have coped.”

Both at personal and team level, Dixon’s plan is for the good form to continue and he is eyeing a seventh United win in a row from tomorrow’s trip to Falkirk.

With the Bairns sitting just a point above the bottom of the table, an away win is the expected outcome, but he warns nothing can be taken for granted.

“We are on a winning run and that has made us confident, but Falkirk are one of the best footballing sides in the country and it will not be an easy game.”

As well aware that he is of that hot streak, manager Craig Levein is taking nothing for granted.

“It would be very presumptuous to look at any away fixture in the SPL and say we were definitely going to win,” he said.

“We will try to, but we are going to a place that has been a difficult venue for us and facing a team who play good football.”

Mihael Kovacevic is set to return to the Tangerine squad after a fractured cheekbone and that means only injured striker Jon Daly misses out.

And he’s looking to maintain his streak in a game which pits second-top Saints against third-placed Dunfermline.

“We won and drew there last season and, while I was with Dundee, we won there,” said Steven.

“It would be nice to get on the scoresheet again, but, as long as the team wins that’s the main thing.

“Dunfermline beat us 3-0 earlier in the season when we were having a poor spell, but we have turned the corner and are playing with confidence.”

An ankle knock means forward Andy Jackson, whose cracking strike gave Saints a 1-0 win at East End last season, is doubtful, and they are minus long-term injured keeper Euan McLean.

Saints boss Derek McInnes is delighted at his team’s form — 16 points from the last six games — but is stressing they face a tough task in Fife.

“We’re taking things one game at a time and have concentrated all our thoughts this week on tomorrow’s match.

“Having beaten us earlier in the season at McDiarmid Park, we know what we are up against and we’ll be prepared to go and give it our best shot.”

Dunfermline performed admirably despite losing 1-0 away to Dundee United in the Co-operative Insurance Cup on Tuesday, and are likely to be unchanged.

That means Scott Wilson, who returned against United from an injury lay-off, is set to retain his place in the centre of the Pars defence.

Their boss Jim McIntyre realises Saints are a far better outfit than the one they defeated earlier in the season, saying, “We’ll have to be at our best. We played really well when we won in Perth and I’d like to see a repeat of that tomorrow.”

Both teams look like having big supports to cheer them on.

Up to 2000 Saints fans, with some in fancy dress, are expected to make the trip, while Pars chairman John Yorkston called on his team’s fans to come out and give their support.

“This is a very important game for us and I would urge as many Pars fans as possible to get behind the team for what is a crunch game,” he said.