Peter Houston, the man who masterminded Dundee United’s Scottish Cup triumph, has agreed to boss the Tangerines on a permanent basis.
There will be no official confirmation until later this week or even early next, however Houston and chairman Stephen Thompson made substantial progress in their talks and all that remains is for the deal to be formalised.
It will be a three-year contract, a fitting reward for the man who helped bring silverware back to Tannadice for the first time since 1994.
Houston’s agent John Colquhoun will be at the ground today to iron out the finer details of the deal, one of which is an agreement to allow the United gaffer to assist his former boss Craig Levein in the Scotland setup for the Euro qualifying campaign.
“I have met with the chairman and he has asked me to become the permanent manager of Dundee United,” confirmed Houston.
“I am thrilled and honoured to be asked the question. We talked about the things I wanted to discuss and it was a good conversation.
“My representative is coming to speak to him on Thursday and I expect everything to be done before the end of the week.No problems”Things will be tied upI don’t expect any problems.
“And the chairman is more than happy for me to be with Scotland for the qualifiers.”
The 51-year-old has also had assurances that his budget will remain at least as substantial as it was for the season just past.
United are likely to receive bids for players this summer, with Middlesbrough poised to step up their interest in Hampden goal hero Craig Conway, but Houston will be handed adequate funds to find any replacements if required.
“Nobody has bid for any of our players but it would be foolish to think that if anyone comes in with the right money they will still be here,” he added.
“We are a selling club and that’s the way it is.
“All of our players are under contract but we have done very well and being successful means people will sniff around your players.Price is right”Some of our guys have done brilliantly so if someone comes in for them with a massive bid then they will go.
“That is the same if I am the manager, Craig Levein or anyone else is the manager.
“I would be delighted to go into the new season with the squad I have but you just don’t know.
“Paul Hegarty (the first team coach) is away watching people for us right now because we want to bring new faces in.
“I want one or two because we have lost Andy Webster back to Rangers so I will need a centre-half and I also need a left-back to push Paul Dixon.
“Because of the cup run and other things the budget will be roughly the same as it was for last season.
“If anyone does go, I will definitely get the salary back into the budget and I will speak to the chairman about getting a wee bit of the transfer fee.”
Houston added Hegarty to his coaching staff in January in order for him to ease the workload of United’s coaching staff and he will be put in charge when the manager is away with Scotland.
As well as holding his own talks with Thompson on Wednesday, Houston was pleased to announce that Scott Robertson and Keith Watson had agreed new deals.
Robertson has agreed a 12-month extension to his contract to 2012, while Watson has put pen to paper until 2013.
“I am delighted to get Scott and Keith signed up,” said Houston.
“Scott has had a season blighted by injury but before that he was a Scotland player.
“He is getting back to form and fitness so I can see him forcing his way into the international squad.Great attitude”He has a great attitude, is dedicated and works hard every day of his life.
“Keith is the very same and I am thrilled that they are staying here.”
Robertson was delighted to hear that his fresh deal will be shortly followed by a new agreement with the manager.
The midfielder, who spent 10 months struggling with a groin injury, was a second-half substitute in the final victory over Ross County and is looking forward to the next chapter of his career working with Houston.
Robertson said, “I am delighted he is staying.
“He has done brilliantly, his win percentage record is amazing and things have just kept going from when Craig Levein was here.
“He did a lot of the training when Craig was here and was very close to the boys.
“It is still like that, although he is putting a wee bit of distance between himself and the players.
“He knows the boys inside out, knows how they are feeling and when they need a wee boost.”
Robertson, who signed from Dundee under freedom of contract two years ago, admitted he harboured doubts over whether his injury woes would cost him a new contract.Cap it allLuckily, his form after making the switch across the city was impressive enough to win him his first Scotland cap against Argentina, something that stuck in the minds of the manager and the board members.
“I was worried about my contract situation because I was coming into my last year,” said Robertson.
“In my position plenty of boys wouldn’t have been offered a new deal, but the club have been great and now I want to show the fans what I can really do.
“It is great to hear that the gaffer thinks I can get back to my best and even into the Scotland squad again.
“The first five months here were the best memories of my football career.
“It is a great time to be at United, we are looking forward to Europe and the new season.
“If we can get into the group stages that will be a massive achievement.
“The feeling around the club at the moment is amazing.”Our edition of Monday, May 17, contained comprehensive coverage of Dundee United’s Scottish Cup victory over Ross County as well as a special supplement packed with photographs of the team’s victory parade and celebrations throughout the city. If you missed Monday’s Courier, we will post a copy to a UK address for £1. Call 0800 318846 to secure your copy. Copies are also available at our front counter, Meadowside, Dundee. Customers from abroad should email shop@dcthomson.co.uk to reserve the edition.Houston added Hegarty to his coaching staff in January in order for him to ease the workload of United’s coaching staff and he will be put in charge when the manager is away with Scotland.
As well as holding his own talks with Thompson on Wednesday, Houston was pleased to announce that Scott Robertson and Keith Watson had agreed new deals.
Robertson has agreed a 12-month extension to his contract to 2012, while Watson has put pen to paper until 2013.
“I am delighted to get Scott and Keith signed up,” said Houston.
“Scott has had a season blighted by injury but before that he was a Scotland player.
“He is getting back to form and fitness so I can see him forcing his way into the international squad.Great attitude”He has a great attitude, is dedicated and works hard every day of his life.
“Keith is the very same and I am thrilled that they are staying here.”
Robertson was delighted to hear that his fresh deal will be shortly followed by a new agreement with the manager.
The midfielder, who spent 10 months struggling with a groin injury, was a second-half substitute in the final victory over Ross County and is looking forward to the next chapter of his career working with Houston.
Robertson said, “I am delighted he is staying.
“He has done brilliantly, his win percentage record is amazing and things have just kept going from when Craig Levein was here.
“He did a lot of the training when Craig was here and was very close to the boys.
“It is still like that, although he is putting a wee bit of distance between himself and the players.
“He knows the boys inside out, knows how they are feeling and when they need a wee boost.”
Robertson, who signed from Dundee under freedom of contract two years ago, admitted he harboured doubts over whether his injury woes would cost him a new contract.Cap it allLuckily, his form after making the switch across the city was impressive enough to win him his first Scotland cap against Argentina, something that stuck in the minds of the manager and the board members.
“I was worried about my contract situation because I was coming into my last year,” said Robertson.
“In my position plenty of boys wouldn’t have been offered a new deal, but the club have been great and now I want to show the fans what I can really do.
“It is great to hear that the gaffer thinks I can get back to my best and even into the Scotland squad again.
“The first five months here were the best memories of my football career.
“It is a great time to be at United, we are looking forward to Europe and the new season.
“If we can get into the group stages that will be a massive achievement.
“The feeling around the club at the moment is amazing.”Our edition of Monday, May 17, contained comprehensive coverage of Dundee United’s Scottish Cup victory over Ross County as well as a special supplement packed with photographs of the team’s victory parade and celebrations throughout the city. If you missed Monday’s Courier, we will post a copy to a UK address for £1. Call 0800 318846 to secure your copy. Copies are also available at our front counter, Meadowside, Dundee. Customers from abroad should email shop@dcthomson.co.uk to reserve the edition.