Our sports writers Eric Nicolson and Ian Roache consider the troubles at Dundee United, the looming Dundee derby, St Johnstone’s amazing win over Aberdeen and Forfar’s farewell to League One.
Q An easy one to start with (not). Chairman Stephen Thompson is now open to selling his controlling interest in Dundee United so what do you think will happen next?
IR: Thompson has concluded that now is the time for someone to take over from him – if they have the money and desire to do so. He has laid down a challenge. I remain to be convinced that there is any locally-based, United-minded person ready to step in. I predict we are in for a long summer full of hints and possibilities but, when United start next season in the Championship, I wouldn’t be surprised if Thompson is still in control.
EN: We’re probably about to find out that it’s one thing calling for ownership change and another thing seeing it happen. You can never rule out Tim Keyes-type characters emerging from nowhere but I’m inclined to agree with Ian. I expect it to still be a Stephen Thompson-owned and run Dundee United for the foreseeable future. From Thompson’s own point of view, this ‘show us your money’ move was the most sensible one open to him.
Q Thompson is clearly fed up and would like to get out. Do you have any sympathy for him?
IR: The club’s fall from grace has been rapid and dramatic and, like every United supporter, Thompson is struggling to come to terms with that. He has made mistakes, as he himself admits, but even his fiercest critic would surely accept that it can’t be easy to hear your name being derided by protesting supporters. Fans are entitled to demonstrate, of course. Indeed, Sunday’s scenes outside Tannadice brought back memories of the final days of the old regime before Stephen’s dad Eddie took over. Dissent can’t be allowed to boil over into anything nasty, however, and I’m confident that won’t be the case regardless of how the next few days, weeks and months pan out.
EN: Thompson has had a bad 18 months or so. There’s no getting away from it. But Jackie McNamara, Mixu Paatelainen and a lot of players have to share equal blame for where United find themselves. There’s no way the sales of Gary Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong and Nadir Ciftci should have set in motion a chain of events resulting in relegation a season-and-a-half later. A half-decent summer transfer window would have been enough to see United in the top six again.
Q United boss Mixu Paatelainen’s time as manager appears to be nearing an end. Do you agree that the board have been left with no choice but to consider his position?
IR: Paatelainen is a likeable, larger-than-life character, who usually has a smile on his face and a chirpy word to say. However, he looked like a beaten man on Sunday and that was understandable. He also seemed to be putting some distance between himself and his players with comments such as “It was totally opposite to how we prepared and how we spoke.” When you hear stuff like that you know the end is nigh. I think he will stay for the derby and/or until relegation is confirmed and then be on his way with a negotiated severance package.
EN: Paatelainen’s job wasn’t mission impossible. He could have kept them up. I was shocked at how lifeless United have been in their last two league matches and you have to hold Mixu chiefly responsible for that.
Q Looking back on Sunday’s dreadful defeat at home to Hamilton Accies, that was a shocker was it not?
IR: It was actually hard to remember seeing a more inept performance from United over several decades of watching them play. It was shockingly bad and without any redeeming features.
EN: Oh yes. You could have made a case for Mixu staying if they’d maintained the momentum of the St Johnstone win and just been pipped at the post by Kilmarnock. But the way United have seemed to surrender has been totally unacceptable. It gets people in the press box angry, so I can only imagine how United fans felt on Sunday afternoon.
Q The consensus seems to be that Dundee fans will love to see United relegated at Dens next Monday. Is that a fair enough assessment of the situation?
IR: Of course it is and it’s OK in my book. Local rivalry comes into play to add to old-fashioned human nature. Also, it’s not as if United fans haven’t enjoyed rubbing it in over the years when Dundee have been down. I do, however, know of at least one Dark Blues fan (very) close to home who is being diplomatic about the whole thing and genuinely would like both clubs to stay in the Premiership. I fear she is in the minority though! Mind you, we might all get worked up about the derby only for Hamilton to beat Kilmarnock on Saturday to ensure relegation can’t happen on Monday night. United fans will certainly be cheering on the Accies.
EN: It’s what football’s all about. I have absolutely no doubt that the vast majority of Dundee fans wouldn’t swap Monday night’s match for a top six one. And I can’t blame United fans for giving this derby a miss. Nobody would accuse them of being disloyal.
Q St Johnstone raised a few eyebrows with that home win over Aberdeen. It looks like Saints can finish with a flourish, yes?
IR: That was some result and it was a shame that much of the focus post-match was on how poorly Aberdeen played. Maybe missing out on another exhausting European odyssey has cheered the players up…
EN: I didn’t see it coming. Don’t get me wrong, if there is one team you knew wouldn’t down tools it’s this St Johnstone side. But to out-fight and out-play a team still going for a title was as encouraging for Saints fans as it was dispiriting for Aberdeen supporters.
Q Raith Rovers top the form league in the Championship. Has enough attention been paid to their resurgence under Ray McKinnon’s leadership?
IR: Maybe not but the Rovers will come more under the national spotlight as the play-offs near. They have to be considered genuine candidates to go all the way up.
EN: They’ve had the lowest profile of the play-off teams, that’s for sure (though not in The Courier, obviously!) I think winning three two-game ties may be beyond them (the play-offs really are weighted in favour of the Premiership club) but don’t rule it out completely.
Q There was gloom and doom on the Courier sportdesk when we heard Forfar had been relegated. Can they get right back up?
IR: I am sure they can. A club like Forfar does a brilliant job at being at the heart of its community and there is a real hardcore of loyal fans in the town. They will stick by the team and help push them back up next season.
EN: We’ll have to wait and see what squad Gary Bollan assembles. I’m certainly looking forward to Forfar v Arbroath, though!
