Dundee United gaffer Ray McKinnon has urged young players to back themselves — even when bosses like him don’t think they will make the grade.
And he believes the best way to do that is to find first-team football — even if it means switching from full-time to part-time.
As is the case every close season, over the past few weeks Ray has had to tell some of the kids at Tannadice they will not be getting offered new contracts.
As unpleasant as that task is, this year he has extended that beyond those whose deals were on the verge of expiry — this week, Jassem Sukar and Aaron Murrell were told they were free to find new clubs.
While he doesn’t hide from the fact that’s been in part a monetary decision, he also sees it as something that can also benefit the players concerned.
“At the end of the season, you always have to let people go, that’s part of the job,” he said.
“Here at United right now, as well as a few whose contracts were expiring, there are a few young boys with a year of their deals left but who I know will not be involved next season.
“We have told them that and I do honestly believe it’s the best thing to do.
“There is no point in having them sitting around here for a year with no prospect of them stepping up to the first team.
“It would be disheartening for them and could halt their progress.
“For me the best thing they can do is get out and find another club, show they’re hungry to play, because that kind of thing impresses managers.
“Sitting about doing nothing for a year doesn’t and, if someone contacts me to ask about a player who’s done that, I can hardly give them a glowing reference.”
One thing Ray will not do is remove from his group any player who decides to see out his contract, even if he knows his chances of game time are minimal.
“At every level I am going to pick players I feel have a future here but, if boys have signed contracts, they have the right to see them out and I will always respect that.
“There are some of them here who have a year of their contracts left and, if they come back for pre-season, I’ll have no problem with that. They’ll be welcomed back and they’ll be treated properly.
“I just feel from their point of view if they know they don’t have a future at their club, that’s the time to go.
“It shows a determination managers like and, in my case, if someone proves me wrong I’ll be delighted because, in the end, I want to see players who work hard and do well.”
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