Ryan Edwards went through a rollercoaster of emotions during three years at Dundee United.
He rode the crest of the wave with the highs of captaining the side into Europe and leading them to a stunning home win over AZ Alkmaar.
And he came crashing back down again with the extreme lows of embarrassing 7-0 and 9-0 losses to Alkmaar and Celtic, ultimately enduring relegation to the Championship.
Edwards played 112 times for United in three years and scored eight goals.
He was held up as a cult hero by many during his second season and proudly captained the club.
But after being dropped for the survival run-in and watching from the sidelines as United were relegated, Edwards’ time at United came to a bitter end.
In a Courier Sport exclusive, Edwards discusses the highs and lows of Europe and relegation.
He also bites back at allegations he ‘threw in the towel’ and tackles being dropped by Jim Goodwin.
Alkmaar excitement to despair as Dundee United ‘Beware the Ides of August’
United rode the crest of a wave after a 1-0 Europa Conference League win over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar at the start of August.
By the end of the month they’d lost five on the bounce.
They crashed out of Europe after a 7-0 second leg defeat to Alkmaar and were hammered 9-0 at home by Celtic.
Jack Ross was sacked as manager after just 10 weeks in charge with allegations that he’d been ‘thrown under the bus’ by some senior players.
Edwards said: “I remember looking around the dressing room before we took to the pitch against Alkmaar at Tannadice and thinking: ‘What a squad we have.’
“We signed a lot of experienced internationals and I wanted us to challenge Hearts for third place.
Dundee United 1-0 AZ Alkmaar
What a goal this is from Glenn Middleton! 👏
Watch the superb strike ⤵️
📺 TV Coverage on @BBCScotland
📲 Live text
📻 @BBCSportsound #BBCFootball— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) August 4, 2022
“After the first Alkmaar game I believed we could do it.
“Even pundits were saying we were coming for Hearts. Then it all went wrong.
“We lost heavily to Alkmaar and it began to unravel.
“The flight home from Holland was up there with the worst I’ve felt in football.
“Our confidence was shot. We went on to lose heavily to Celtic and Jack Ross lost his job.
“At the time of Jack’s departure there were rumours that certain players had thrown him under the bus.
“I refute that. It didn’t happen. Some of the abuse that individual players got was ridiculous.
“No-one fell out with the manager and I’ve never known any player to intentionally go out there to try and get a manager the sack.”
Ryan Edwards hits back at ‘downed tools’ allegation
As the season wore on, Edwards faced allegations from a section of the fans that he had ‘downed tools’ and agreed a pre-contract elsewhere.
“I started getting direct messages on social media that weren’t particularly nice,” added Edwards.
“Some crossed the line. I wanted to bite back but that’s not professional.
“As a professional, the worst insult you can get is for people to say you have downed tools or aren’t trying.
“Any professional who does that shouldn’t be in the game.
“People assumed the rumours about me signing a pre-contract were true. They weren’t.
“When January comes and you are going out of contract you could be out of a job if you don’t look at your options.
“Those include staying where you are but I was always up front with United and I believe the were with me.
“I desperately wanted United to stay up. No-one wants to be the captain of a team that goes down, especially one that so many care about.
“How would chucking it benefit me anyway? Who would want to sign a player who does that?”
Dropped by Jim Goodwin
Edwards played almost every minute for United during his first two-and-a-half seasons.
But he was dropped after making mistakes in the second half of the 3-1 loss to Aberdeen in March.
He returned to the starting line-up against St Mirren and Rangers but played just 78 more minutes for United during their final eight games.
“Being dropped was tough to take,” added Edwards.
“For almost three years I’d been a regular and barely missed a minute.
“I wasn’t chomping at the bit to leave but I did get a feeling when the manager came in that my time would come to an end.”
“But after I made a mistake against Aberdeen at home I was dropped. I took that on the chin and accepted it.
“I worked my way back in and performed well at Rangers and at home to St Mirren. Then the manager decided to drop me again.
“This time I didn’t agree with it. I told him that but we worked through it.
“I had no hard feelings towards anyone at the camp.
“Jim Goodwin even went in the media to outline how much of an important role I was continuing to play off the park.
“It would help no-one if I was sulking about the place, so I didn’t do it.
“I wasn’t chomping at the bit to leave but I did get a feeling when the manager came in that my time would come to an end.
“There’s always going to be bitterness and soreness because of what happened at the end. I’m devastated that the club was relegated.
“It’s a club I grew to love. They really made me feel at home and I met a lot of good people that I will stay in touch with.
Ryan Edwards ‘honoured’ to be Dundee United captain
“During the second season, the fans really took me into their hearts.
“We beat Motherwell at home and there was a banner with my face on it saying: ‘I wanna be Edwards.’
“The fans started singing that at games and produced stickers and beer mats that on it.
“I was honoured to be made captain of a great club. I took my responsibilities seriously.
“On the park I tried to integrate players like Kerr Smith into the side.
“At 16 he played in a Dundee derby and at Celtic Park and earned a move that made United a lot of money.
🗣 "All you can do is be as positive as you can for the other lads – they'll tell you I'm not one to sulk. I'm always in a position to be ready. The aim is to win every game, it's as simple as that."
Skipper Ryan Edwards chats to DUTV ahead of #UTDROS 🍿
👇 | #cinchPrem | #DUFC
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) May 12, 2023
“Off the park, I always tried to check in with everyone at the club and make sure they felt a part of it.
“We’re all human beings. As footballers, we aren’t any more special than anyone else.
“Maybe because we set the standards so high, fans began to question how it could go the other way and turned.
“I’m hoping my future will be secured in the next week or so and I’ll be back playing in English football.
“I’ll miss a lot about United. I’ll miss the people and I hope they go on and smash the Championship and have it wrapped up by Christmas.”
