I spoke to Mark Ogren on Tuesday lunchtime in the middle of his search for a manager.
The Dundee United owner sounded fairly sombre.
The American has invested around £15 million in the club with scant return.
When I spoke to him, Craig Levein and John Hughes had been approached, but he was non-committal, simply saying: “We’re still in dialogue, there’s nothing to report.”
In the event, Jim Goodwin was appointed until the end of the season and has taken a gamble on a short term deal which, I suspect, the other two weren’t prepared to buy into and risk their reputations for.
PODCAST: Jim Spence-Mark Ogren phone call that sheds light on Dundee United owner’s mood amid Tannadice turmoil https://t.co/9EX2od8hvn pic.twitter.com/zDQJROtxMF
— The Courier Sport (@thecouriersport) March 2, 2023
Ogren lost his head coach and sporting director in the space of a few days and there seems little doubt that he’s been badly stung by the reaction of what he called ‘a small vocal minority of fans’, who’ve been very instrumental in Liam Fox and Tony Asghar leaving Tannadice.
He said he thought the bulk of the United fan base were great; however, until recently, he’s enjoyed a warm relationship with the supporters, and the sudden loosening of that seemingly strong bond has, I suspect, changed the atmosphere significantly.
I asked him about the opprobrium that has been dished out from some supporters and he was curt in his response, simply admitting: “It’s a big challenge”.
I think there’s little doubt that, as Scots, our football teams’ fortunes – or the lack of them – can bring out the vituperative in us.
I suggested to Ogren that fans have a tendency to see the worst of things rather than the best and that could be destructive and hurtful.
He replied: “I think you’re exactly right. It’s unfortunate, but we’ll plough ahead.”
Whether he’ll plough ahead long term I’m less certain of than I was just a week ago, although he wouldn’t comment on whether he was looking to sell the club.
When Stephen Thompson and Mike Martin were looking to sell United, the talk was always of ‘people out there’ who were interested.
In the event, no locals made a play for the club and it was the American who put his money where others’ mouths were.
Whether there are local potential bidders with deep enough pockets to offer Ogren a way out – and who are prepared to subject themselves to potential grief and abuse every time they fill up the car, go for a coffee or a meal, or sit in the directors box – is something we may soon find out.
‘Honeymoon’ with fans over
It’s great when things are going well as they were until the start of this season, but when the team struggles and the mood sours, owning a club isn’t for the faint-hearted, or those with shallow pockets.
Ogren obviously tightened the purse strings in the January window and, with the honeymoon with the fans now over, I suspect he may consider selling up.
If he does, he’ll undoubtedly take a hit on his investment, but first he needs to find someone prepared to buy him out.
Any new owner will incur a hefty wage bill and will need to ensure the club starts to live within its means.
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