Dundee United manager Peter Houston has sent a blunt message to chairman Stephen Thompson, declaring: ”I don’t fear the sack.”
”I have worked with the board to cut the budget back and have lost some good players. If I do end up out of a job I will put my record against any United manager other than Jim McLean.”
Houston looked elsewhere in the league for examples of clubs that have kept managers in place despite pressure to change, only to see an improvement in form and league placing.
Craig Brown at Aberdeen and Colin Calderwood at Hibs were early-season targets for criticism but seem to have come through their difficulties.
”I have looked at other managers in the SPL who have had some stick and their chairmen have come out and backed them,” he said. ”Rod Petrie (Hibs) and Stewart Milne (Aberdeen) came out to back their managers so I suppose it is my turn.
”It would be nice to get some backing, too, but I will just concentrate on Saturday’s game.”
Houston also stated that if he remains and leads United to a top-six finish then that would outstrip his other feats at United.
”I told the chairman at the start of the season that if we get top six it would be a bigger achievement than winning the cup,” he said. ”I thought that because of the players we lost, the size of the squad and all the young boys we had to bring in.
”Call it making excuses if you want but if you take four first-team regulars (injured trio Danny Swanson, Scott Severin and Sean Dillon, as well as the transferred David Goodwillie) out of any SPL team then it is hard to replace them all in one go.”
The manager is confident he has the full support of his players and says the one thing you could not accuse them of on Tuesday was a lack of effort.
”I know I have 100% commitment from the players you have seen that in the last few matches so I will stick together with the lads,” he added.
”The boys are working their socks off. Sometimes you find when a team is not doing well is that the players have not been putting the effort in. That is not the case here.”
Houston has just marked five years at United, having joined as assistant manager to Craig Levein back in October 2006.
”I have been here five years this week,” he said. ”In that time along with Craig we got the team off the bottom of the league, then into the top six the following season.
”Since then we have won the cup, finished third and fourth, with Europe two years in a row. United have progressed every season.”
It has been reported again that ex-United player and Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O’Neill is being lined up to replace Houston, despite denials from United sources that the Ulsterman has been approached.
Houston said: ”It is a results business I know that. But to read that other managers have been spoken to is a bit disrespectful.”
The Tannadice boss was reacting to reports in west of Scotland-based newspapers that the Tangerines have to beat Dunfermline on Saturday or he will lose his job.
Thompson returns from his Florida holiday today, having cut it short by a few days. When he arrives back at work he will find his manager in bullish mood and seeking clarification over his position.
It is probably the worst possible way for the club to prepare for an apparently make-or-break match at East End Park on Saturday.
However, Houston delivered one of the best defences possible when he stated, correctly, that he has a better record than any United manager, with the exception of the legendary Jim McLean.
Winning the Scottish Cup and a third-place finish in the season he took over from Craig Levein was followed by a fourth spot in the SPL last term. Both campaigns earned European football for the Tangerines.
In lifting silverware at Hampden less than a year and a half ago, he became only the third United boss in their history to clinch a trophy, along with Ivan Golac (Scottish Cup) and, of course, McLean (Premier Division title and two League Cups).
Results this time around have not been good, though, and pressure on Houston increased when his team were knocked out of the Scottish Communities League Cup by First Division side Falkirk on Tuesday night.
League form has also been poor, with only two wins from 12 SPL matches this term.
If the axe does fall, Houston says he will take it in his stride and walk out the door with his head held high.
”I have read the reports in the newspapers,” he said. ”In football nothing should shock you but it is something I have to deal with.
”I don’t know if it is true or not because I have not spoken to the chairman. As far as I know he is on holiday so I have not heard from him. When I do speak to him I will be asking about what is in the newspapers.
”But if he wants to bring in a new manager then I will look at my own record and walk out the front door of Tannadice with my head held high. I don’t fear the sack. If they want me to go then I will accept it that’s football.
”It is up to the club to decide what they are going to do but what I will say is that if I do get the sack on the back of this season and it’s only October, remember then I think it will be harsh.
”I have the second-best record behind Jim McLean and am one of only three trophy-winning managers the club has had. We have been in Europe twice in a row as well, despite the budget being cut. This club had not been in Europe two years in a row since the 1980s.
Continued…
The Tannadice boss was reacting to reports in west of Scotland-based newspapers that the Tangerines have to beat Dunfermline on Saturday or he will lose his job.
Thompson returns from his Florida holiday today, having cut it short by a few days. When he arrives back at work he will find his manager in bullish mood and seeking clarification over his position.
It is probably the worst possible way for the club to prepare for an apparently make-or-break match at East End Park on Saturday.
However, Houston delivered one of the best defences possible when he stated, correctly, that he has a better record than any United manager, with the exception of the legendary Jim McLean.
Winning the Scottish Cup and a third-place finish in the season he took over from Craig Levein was followed by a fourth spot in the SPL last term. Both campaigns earned European football for the Tangerines.
In lifting silverware at Hampden less than a year and a half ago, he became only the third United boss in their history to clinch a trophy, along with Ivan Golac (Scottish Cup) and, of course, McLean (Premier Division title and two League Cups).
Results this time around have not been good, though, and pressure on Houston increased when his team were knocked out of the Scottish Communities League Cup by First Division side Falkirk on Tuesday night.
League form has also been poor, with only two wins from 12 SPL matches this term.
If the axe does fall, Houston says he will take it in his stride and walk out the door with his head held high.
”I have read the reports in the newspapers,” he said. ”In football nothing should shock you but it is something I have to deal with.
”I don’t know if it is true or not because I have not spoken to the chairman. As far as I know he is on holiday so I have not heard from him. When I do speak to him I will be asking about what is in the newspapers.
”But if he wants to bring in a new manager then I will look at my own record and walk out the front door of Tannadice with my head held high. I don’t fear the sack. If they want me to go then I will accept it that’s football.
”It is up to the club to decide what they are going to do but what I will say is that if I do get the sack on the back of this season and it’s only October, remember then I think it will be harsh.
”I have the second-best record behind Jim McLean and am one of only three trophy-winning managers the club has had. We have been in Europe twice in a row as well, despite the budget being cut. This club had not been in Europe two years in a row since the 1980s.
Continued…