Dundee United No2 Lee McCulloch reckons boss Robbie Neilson is “years ahead of his time” as the club prepares for life in the Premiership.
United were last week crowned champions, after the SPFL voted to call the season in the lower leagues, and with it they secured a return to Scottish football’s top table after four long years.
McCulloch believes the Tangerines are in safe hands with Robbie and will be well received by other clubs as they prepare to make the step up.
“I actually think he is years and years ahead of his time when it comes to managing players,” the former Rangers and Wigan man said.
“He really knows how to deal with them and that was apparent throughout the season. He knows how to get into their heads, knows how to get a positive reaction from them and knows how to calm them down.
“That isn’t just on match days but from Monday to Friday as well.
“His office door is open to everybody, be it players or coaches, and we have all taken advantage of that and asked him for advice. It has been a pleasure to work with him and it will be terrific to do so again in the Premiership.
“I have already had a lot of phone calls from people at other clubs in the Premiership saying how much they are looking forward to welcoming us back.
“The club has been away for four seasons and that is too long for us and for Scottish football.
“When you look at the size of our support, especially the travelling fans, then there will be more than a few teams happy to see us play at their place.
“I also believe we will help make the division more competitive because we will be having a go.”
Robbie has managed in the top tier before, guiding Hearts to a third-place finish in 2016, with assistant boss McCulloch briefly gaffer at Kilmarnock.
And Jig believes that experience will be vital if they are to achieve their season’s aims.
He added: “We are in the fortunate position of Robbie having managed in the top flight before, while I have also done so at Kilmarnock.
“I think we will get plenty of respect, both as a club and as a coaching team.
“We will absolutely relish it, pitting our wits against the top sides as regards tactics and selections.
“We do feel, though, we are well equipped to handle it when the new season does start. We will fear nobody.
“United won’t be the big club in the division anymore but we are big enough to make other sides wary of us and will still be seen as a scalp.
“Like we did in the Championship, we must aim to make Tannadice a hard place for other teams to visit because our home form will be central to any success we have next season.”
Robbie and United co-owner Scott Ogren have been on record of late to say they are targeting a top-six finish next term.
You get the sense keeping a hold of star man Lawrence Shankland will be crucial to their plans and McCulloch was pleased to hear the 28-goal hitman is keen to stick around.
He continued: “Yeah, I noticed that he said that and of course it was nice for everyone at United to see that.
“We all know what can happen (possible transfer) but Lawrence is an honest boy.
“When he says he is happy at a club then you should believe him.
“It tells me that he is content at the moment with things and there is also a baby on the way for him and his partner.
“We obviously want to keep him as he is more than a goal-scorer to our club. He is also great with the young players and is good to have around the place.”
