Tope Obadeyi believes he has taken a step up in his career by stepping down a division to join Dundee United.
The 26-year-old English winger has seen enough of his new club already to convince him he has signed for a team that is bigger than Kilmarnock, the side he has just left.
Killie may have Premiership football to look forward to next season thanks, in no small part, to Obadeyi’s contribution in the play-off final win over Falkirk.
However, despite having now dropped into the Championship with United he is convinced that he has made the right move.
“For me, this is a massive club,” said Obadeyi, who has agreed a one-year deal with Ray McKinnon’s men.
“OK, we may be in the Championship but it’s a still big club.
“Indeed, Kilmarnock may be in the Premiership but, I have to say, Dundee United is bigger than them.
“It has been great to get in and chat to the manager about his plans for the team and for me personally, and to see the training facilities.”
“I’m looking forward to the new season.
“Everyone I have spoken to about United has told that they expect us to be up there challenging because of the players we have here.
“There is a good crop of young players and some experienced ones too.
“Hopefully, we will be winning more games than we lose.
“It has been great to get in and chat to the manager about his plans for the team and for me personally, and to see the training facilities.”
Obadeyi was asked about the last-minute hitch that seemed to have scuppered the deal on Thursday night before all was well again the following day.
Did he fear it was all going pear-shaped?
“Not really, no,” he replied.
“I think my agent wasn’t sure about a couple of things but it was sorted.
“As far as I was concerned it was all smooth and everything was done the next day.
“It was an easy decision for me to come here.”
As well as viewing United as a bigger side than Killie, Obadeyi also revealed that it doesn’t quite have the feel of a relegated club.
He explained: “This doesn’t seem like a club that is going to be playing in the Championship but we are where we are.
“The boys are chirpy and the spirit seems high in the changing room.
“Everybody seems positive.
“You certainly get that kind of aura off the manager.
“He is always buzzing around the place and you can hear his voice around the corridors.
“That can only good thing, to have someone so positive leading the club.”
McKinnon has been delighted to have Obadeyi around the place since his arrival last Friday, saying: “We are looking for pace and power up front and he certainly gives us those things.
“He can play on the wing or centre forward so we are delighted to have him.”
Meanwhile, McKinnon was assessing the fallout from Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Cove Rangers behind closed-doors at St Andrews.
The bad news was that new defender Lewis Toshney suffered a broken nose and has had to go to hospital to get it fixed.
McKinnon said: “It’s a horrible injury and a bit of a shame for him.
“This is a setback for him.”
Slovenian trialist Alen Ploj scored two of United’s goals against the Highland League champions, with Henri Anier getting the other.
McKinnon added: “Alen did OK. He had a couple of good chances and scored two good goals.
“There are still a lot of things we need to look at and we’ll monitor him.”
Another trialist, Lewis Hornby, did well and will be given more game time to impress the manager, having only joined United’s training a day after flying back from a holiday in Las Vegas.
Stephane Zubar has returned south but McKinnon hopes he hasn’t seen the last of him despite the defender having offers from elsewhere.
The United boss said: “He did well but he is untested, if that makes sense.
“He has gone back down to Bournemouth today but he is going to come back up to play against Blackpool a week on Tuesday.”
Also heading back down the road is Joe Ward, with McKinnon not pursuing his interest in the West Brom man.
The Tannadice gaffer said: “He is a talented player but I couldn’t guarantee him a game every week.
“We also have young Brad Smith sitting there waiting to come through and develop.
“I thought Brad was every bit as good as Joe so there was no point keeping him even though he is a great lad and a good player.”
McKinnon also remains hopeful of welcoming Reading central defender Zak Jules on trial this week.
United travel the few miles north to Forfar tonight to play the Loons in a pre-season friendly.
The team will be a mixture of young players, such as Harry Souttar, more experienced men and a sprinkling of trialists.
