St Johnstone striker Nicky Clark on Dundee United exit mystery – ‘Jack Ross put me on for the 9-0 for some reason’

The end of Nicky Clark’s Dundee United career is likely to forever be confusing for the St Johnstone striker.

But the benefits of swapping Tannadice for McDiarmid Park are crystal clear.

It would have been easy for Clark to sit tight after Jack Ross was sacked, with the potential of more first team opportunities at United opening up under Liam Fox.

By that stage, however, his heart was set on Saints.

And it hasn’t caused the 31-year-old a moment’s regret.

“My mind was made up,” said Clark. “I still wanted to go through with the move.

“This is where I wanted to be. When I spoke to the manager here, it was clear they really wanted me.

“That’s a massive thing in football. I’d made my mind up.

“At Dundee United, I really don’t know what had happened.

“Top goalscorer the last few years – I don’t know if Jack Ross just didn’t fancy me but I just never got a sniff at all.

“Then he wanted me there for the Celtic game. That ended up 9-0, and he put me on for that one for some reason.

“When this came about, the manager wanted me so much and I just wanted to get here as soon as possible.

“I was delighted to get here.”