PETER HOUSTON insisted it wasn’t the size of his own pay packet that mattered but the scale of next season’s player budget that was behind his decision to quit Dundee United.
Sitting in the Executive Suite at Tannadice, Houston painted a bleak picture of what lies ahead for the Tangerines, a gloomy outlook that certainly wasn’t shared by the men who sat beside him chairman Stephen Thompson and director Derek Robertson.
Instead of his own financial situation being behind the announcement that he will be leaving the club by the end of May at the latest, the man who led United to Scottish Cup glory in 2010 argued that it is concerns over funding to purchase and pay players that made up his mind.
“In the last three years we have gone from the debt touching £7 million around the time of the cup final to where it now stands at under £4m,” said Houston.
“That gives me great pride that I have worked hard to reduce the debt by losing players but for a manager the most important thing is to maintain success on the park.
“However, that’s getting harder and harder.
“The budget is getting cut again in the summer and I want to be part of a successful Dundee United.
“We have some very good up-and-coming young players but they are not ready to be first-team material every week.
“I have told the board of directors my concerns that if we continue to cut we will not be able to compete on the pitch.
“I understand that the board has to look after the financial side but as a football person I want the best team on the pitch.
“One mediocre season means a £600,000 hit on the club if we don’t finish in the top six.
“What happens if we don’t do that? It’s a huge financial gamble for the club.”
He said he was willing to take a pay cut but agreed that what he was offered by Thompson and the board was still a lucrative amount for an SPL manager.
“I was happy to take a wage cut and this week the chairman offered me a very handsome package to stay on as manager,” added Houston.
“It would be a big wage in terms of quite a few of the SPL managers, so let’s be clear that a wage cut is not the reason why I’m moving on.
“I could easily accept that package, then come October get the sack and walk away with a year’s money.
“So I am taking a huge risk but at this moment in time the CV is good.
“I have done the best I can regards to cutbacks but I want to take the club forward and at this moment in time I can’t see how that will work with young players who are not ready.
“Before I came here the team was finishing ninth and 11th in the league.
“I don’t want to be the manager who took Dundee United back to that level of performance.
“I want to get the best team on the park that can compete at the top end of the league and I have told the chairman that I think that might be difficult in the next couple of years unless new investment comes in.
“Unfortunately the budget will get cut, but one thing that doesn’t change is the expectation of the supporters.
“They have had five years in a row of finishing top six.
“They have had a couple of cup finals and they have won a cup.
“So that will be expected every single year, but since I was asked to look at the staff costs and trying to reduce those I have begun to seriously think about my role here at Dundee United.
“What can I do to better it? I feel it’s getting more difficult.”
This situation will be an extremely challenging one for the Tangerines, riddled with uncertainty.
Houston admitted he could leave at any time should he get a club interested in him.
Also, the Tannadice board would not be doing their job were they not considering replacements for Houston.
The players now have a gaffer whom they know won’t be there for much longer and the fans will have concerns about the whole season drifting into mediocrity or even worse.
Houston was adamant, though, that there will be no slacking off from him or the squad.
He told his players yesterday before he took training and he wants them to respond to the news of his departure in a positive fashion when they take to the field tomorrow against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
“I can’t say for definite what will happen,” he added.
“All I know is that I have a bunch of boys who won’t down tools.
“And they have a manager who at this moment in time is very highly motivated until the end of May to try to make sure this club gets back to where it has been.
“Because if I make it four years in the top six then that is an even more impressive CV. I need to get one made up actually!
“That does concern me slightly if the fans think I am ready to down tools.
“The point I am trying to get over here today is that (it won’t happen).
“I did not come here as a Dundee United supporter, I did not go to Hearts as a Hearts supporter or Leicester City as a Leicester fan.
“But you do get an affection for a football club and I think the fans recognise where they are now as opposed to where they were prior to Craig Levein and I coming in.
“They were scraping the floor and I remember (former chairman) Eddie Thompson saying ‘just keep us up’ and to think about the unbelievable money he spent.
“So the biggest thrill for me other than winning the cup was keeping United up that season.
“I know for a fact that Craig thinks that as well.
“The reason I am leaving in May is that I am worried about where we are going to be in the next couple of years. I want progression.
“The fans might think I am going to down tools over the next few months but they don’t know me as a person if they think that.”
As for the players, Houston said he just wants them to get on with their jobs.
“I wasn’t looking for a reaction when I told them, to be honest.
“I want any reaction to come on Saturday when we play Kilmarnock.
“There was a bit of disappointment in there I would imagine, though maybe the boys who aren’t playing won’t feel it.
“But I can offer no complaints about the effort and attitude of the players.
“Young players, experienced players have all worked together and have not had the results we deserved this season.
“We have had a lot of individual mistakes and if we can cut them out and not have to chase games we will have a better chance of winning matches.
“I still believe with the players we have we can have a good run now.
“Top six would be a great finish for me this season and hopefully the players and I can knuckle down and put this behind us.
“I told them we have to make sure we are focused and the boys trained magnificently today.
“There is as good a spirit as there ever was.
“We have worked on the shape and done our homework on Killie. I have a game plan for Rugby Park.
“So this is the end of this matter. I want it to be put to bed now.
“And hopefully one thing that will keep the fans from being unhappy is that we are winning games.”
There is a huge elephant in the room with the transfer window being open, however.
Just how does a manager who has publicly announced he will be leaving United persuade players to either stay at or move to Tannadice?
“That’s a difficult one,” conceded the former Scotland assistant boss.
“I have spoken to the chairman about the fact I can’t sign someone for the next two and a half years.
“There is a player I have been watching all season and the chairman has had words with his agent.
“But I cannot, in my opinion, go and sign that player and say ‘come and join us.’
“It’s a difficult one signing someone long term.
“It might be the case the chairman will go and get a manager who will want to sign his own players anyway.”
iroache@thecourier.co.uk