Former Bristol Rovers manager Mark McGhee has revealed his two bizarre methods in a bid to help his Dundee side avoid an inevitable relegation if they lose at the weekend.
Rock-bottom Dundee head to Saint Johnstone on Saturday five points adrift of their opponents with five games remaining. Defeat would almost confirm their fate in the Scottish Championship unless they pulled off a near-miracle in the following four contests.
McGhee, who spent 11 months at the Gas before his sacking in December 2012, admitted he is going the extra mile to pull off a win - by going on a diet and turning off his heating.
When asked on the preparations being undertaken ahead of the must-win match, he responded: "It requires no stone being left unturned because when the boys run out there on Saturday we need to be able to say we’ve done everything we can to help them get a result.
“I’m going to tell you something really silly. I was trying to make a point with this with Charlie on Monday and he ended up taking the mickey out of me.
“There are two things I’m doing this week to focus us on getting the win. The first thing, I’ve gone on a diet so I’m hungry all the time.
“I can then ask myself why am I hungry – and I am hungry because there is a big game on Saturday.
“The second thing I’m doing, and I’ve also told Charlie I am doing this, I won’t be using any heating. So I will be cold. I then ask myself why am I cold – and I can say because of the game on Saturday.
“It’s not the two things of being cold and hungry but it’s the principle of it because I am asking my own players to make this game as important in their own minds. I want them to focus on the game and this is what I am doing to make sure they are focused.
"I want them to focus on the game and this is what I am doing to make sure they are focused.
"For the rest of this week I will be on a strict Lesley Strachan diet and I won't be using the heating, trust me.
"It is a psychological thing for me because when I get here on Saturday then not only will I feel I have done everything but I will also be able to feel I have given everything.
"So I might feel more deserving of a good result. That is the way the players need to think.
"We need the players to change because if they keep doing the same things as they have done then it is the Einstein adage that if you keep doing the same things and expect a different outcome then it is madness.
"To change you have to change something and this is what I have adopted as part of the process. Charlie (Adam) says I am off my head."
McGhee failed to last a year in the Rovers dugout following his appointment in January 2012, winning just 12 of his 45 games in charge.
He was sacked following a 4-1 defeat to York, leaving Rovers embroiled in a relegation battle with the club second-bottom of the league. His replacement, John Ward, ensured the club would finish the season 14th in League Two.
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