Saturday 7 February 2015 11:40, UK
Dundee manager Paul Hartley has no regrets about turning down an approach from Cardiff City as he plots the donwfall of Celtic in the Scottish Cup this weekend.
Dundee caused an upset when beating Aberdeen in the last round and Hartley is looking to add to his burgeoning reputation by claiming another prize scalp on Saturday.
The former Celtic player was linked with a move to south Wales last September but he told Sky Sports News HQ that he did not feel the Cardiff job was the right fit for him.
He said: "I know some people say you were stupid not to go down there but I don't see it that way. I feel I am still learning as a manager, there is still a long way to go and I am only in my fourth year in my management career. I want to try and build this club and make it successful.
"I think there was a lot of stuff going on at Cardiff that wouldn't have made the job entirely mine in terms of decision-making so I just felt it wasn't for me. I feel that I am my own person and I like to have the final say in things.
"I think I've got a job to do here at Dundee. I enjoy my work, I work with a good group and a good board. I have got an excellent coaching staff and playing staff - there is unfinished business here."
Hartley, who won successive Scottish Cup medals with Hearts and Celtic in 2006 and 2007, acknowledges the odds will be against his side on Saturday.
He said: "I love the Scottish Cup as a manager and I loved it as player. You want to have a cup run. It's your best chance of silverware in Scotland and we want to give it our best shot.
"We've come through a hard tie against Aberdeen and we've got another difficult game against Celtic but we are at home so we have got to go out there and play at our best and see where it takes us.
"They have a squad of 17 or 18 players who are all quality and we have got to play well, concentrate and keep our discipline. When we get the ball we've got to make sure we do something with it. Then we will see it takes us."
Watch Celtic take on Dundee in the Scottish Cup live from Dens Park on Sky Sports 1 this Saturday from noon plus Dundee United at Stranraer 24 hours later on Sky Sports 2
