Pundits Chris Sutton and Ally McCoist have both questioned Dundee’s sacking of James McPake and subsequent hiring of Mark McGhee.
The Dens Park club split with 37-year-old McPake on Wednesday before McGhee replaced him the following morning.
That's despite two wins on the bounce as a big away victory at Hearts lifted the club off the bottom of the table before progress in the Scottish Cup at Peterhead.
Former Celtic striker Sutton expressed sympathy with departed manager McPake and questioned the bizarre timing and McGhee's relationship with Dee technical director Gordon Strachan as he branded the appointment 'jobs for the boys'.
Speaking to BT Sport's Scottish Football Extra, Sutton said: "It's really odd, isn't it. Does it feel right, Mark McGhee, Gordon's mate, going in?
"In recent times he's been to Barnet and Eastbourne Borough, has he really paid close attention to Scottish football, does it matter?
"Well, maybe this season it does. Because Dundee are in a relegation battle.
"Just the timing of the sacking, they beat Hearts away and had a decent win at Peterhead, I feel for James McPake, what an odd time to sack him.
"And then the six game ban Mark McGhee has to sit out, you cannot tell me that is ideal for Dundee. There's what, 12 games left and he's going to have to sit out half of them.
"It's a very strange appointment. Jobs for the boys, isn't it."
He continued: "Mark McGhee may go in and be the best manager they've ever had so like any other manager he deserves the opportunity. It just stinks a bit at this moment in time."
And McCoist jumped in to compare the situation to that of Aberdeen and Hibs, neither of whom have seen an upturn in results after sacking Derek McInnes and Jack Ross respectively.
He added: "Chris is right. The timing, straight away, is bizarre.
"They have got a few results and look like they've all of a sudden got a wee bit about them.
"They're in a dogfight and I understand survival is so important. But we mentioned Aberdeen and Hibs getting rid of managers and expecting instant success when previous managers have done all right.
"There's an element of that in this change as well.
"I don't have a problem with Mark McGhee getting the job, however I'm a little bit concerned the sack culture is rife in the top flight.
"I have a great deal of sympathy with James McPake as well and it's bizarre Mark's come in and he's going to be sitting up in the stand for the first six games. That is anything but ideal."
