Dundee United’s Willo Flood has revealed he has become something of a father figure to teammate Scott Allardice.
He may be only 32 but the wee Irishman has adopted the role of big daddy when it comes to nurturing the career of his 19-year-old midfield colleague.
Flood, who last week agreed a one-year deal to stay at Tannadice and battle for promotion to the Premiership next season, is happy to help out as one of the more experienced men at the club.
“I have taken Scott under my wing and the lads call it a father and son relationship,” said Flood, with a wry smile that suggested his fellow players are enjoying a bit of banter at his expense.
“I jump in the car with him now and again and I moan and let him moan as well.
“I have a lot of time for Scott.
“He had a bad injury when he was a kid and I actually spoke to him when he was 13 or 14 about it.
“We always kept in contact even when I left the club and he was always asking me if my own knee felt as sore as his did when I was coming back from injury.
“I was telling him over time it would be OK and that he would get better and better and, to be fair to him, he got in the first team last season and did really well.
“I am sure he will push on again this season.
“For me, people like Scott will always have a big future.
“They have the right attitude and they have the right ability.
“One thing I always say about young lads is they need to have the right attitude.
“You can have the greatest ability in the world but if the attitude doesn’t come with it you won’t be in the game long enough.
“I have helped the younger players like him and I have done a bit of coaching last season with the 15s and the 16s.
“I used to take the 17s on a Sunday as well and I enjoy that side of the game.”
While “father” Flood is relishing having an influence on Allardice’s development, he admitted he is missing his old pal Sean Dillon, who left Tannadice to join Montrose after a decade at the club.
“It is a bit strange not having him here,” said Flood.
“For example, Scott Fraser came up to me the other day and said everything he knows about Dundee United has been Sean Dillon.
“When he came in as a youth team player he (Sean) was always there.
“Now there are new faces so it is a change but let’s hope that change can bring success at the end of the season.
“Obviously, not getting the club back where it belonged hurt me and the lads.
“Everything I have known about Dundee United has always been top six, getting to semi-finals and finals of cups.
“Let’s hope we can get back there sooner rather than later.”
If there is one big lesson to take out of last season’s promotion failure it is that you probably need to win the league to go up.
That is what Hibs did, thanks largely to the mid-season transfer boost they received.
Flood added: “You have to go for the title.
“For me, those last six play-off games in such a short space of time at the end of the season were mental.
“The squad wasn’t big enough.
“We never really had enough on the bench to change a game.
“I do think this season with the squad that the manager is bringing in we will change that.
“There will be boys like me – and others – who will be out for a few weeks but you’re happy with that if you know there is good competition.
“I thought we lacked a bit in that regard last year.
“Last season when we were doing really well we beat Hibs just before Christmas but in the January we needed to strengthen to give Hibs a push.
“Hibs did strengthen and boys like Kris Commons gave them a lift for that month or two, which was massive in getting them over the line.
“Also, Efe Ambrose did well for them as did the boy Chris Humphrey, who is a good, quick and direct player.
“They obviously added a bit of quality so let’s hope we can do the same ourselves.
“We have brought in a few players and obviously the manager is still working on a few others.
“I would say the future is looking bright.”
