Mixu Paatelainen has warned his new Dundee United troops they are fighting for their Tannadice futures.
The Finn is only two weeks into his Terrors role but has already been given a stark insight into the problems developing at United.
After taking over a side rooted to the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership following Jackie McNamara’s sacking, Paatelainen was alarmed to see his toothless team follow up defeat to Hearts in his first match in charge with a shambolic display in a five-goal hiding at Celtic last weekend.
Now the former Kilmarnock and Hibernian boss is drawing up a list of players he wants to sign in January.
And he has told his current crop they had better prove they can meet his high standards if they want to play a part in the club’s survival bid.
He said: “We’ve now been in two weeks as a coaching staff and tried few things. We’ve changed a few things and we’ll probably change them again until we find the tactics and personnel that suits us.
“But I think as a professional you are always playing for your future.
“My attitude is that whenever the players turn up for training or to play for us, they must show they are worth that contract. It never stops.
“There is never a day the players should turn up and not give their maximum.”
However, Paatelainen is convinced the players can rally after their Parkhead thrashing.
“I have seen a reaction,” he said. “When you lose a match by a big score as we did on Sunday, there’s no other option but to realise you were poor.
“They players do know that. They felt it. Every player knows what went wrong and how we must react in future.
“Okay, a few guys are low on confidence, but mentally I don’t think there is too much wrong. I don’t see guys going in expecting to lose the match.
“Do we have the characters to get us out of this situation? I believe we do.
“I can see the players’ determination and we have good players in this squad. We just want to make sure that every player performs to their maximum and tries their maximum. That’s the only way forward.
“I can see we have a good chance. The situation is not good at all and everybody must realise that. We need to work very hard to correct that. But I can see enough quality to give us a chance to make things better.”
Saturday’s opponents Ross County last season found themselves in the situation currently facing United, but clawed their way out of danger and are this term riding high in fourth.
It is a tale Paatelainen claims can offer hope to his team – but only if they match the Staggies’ work ethic.
He said: “Massive credit to Jim McIntyre and his staff – they are doing a great job. They are playing well. They are organised.
“You can see the work they do on the training pitch. It’s not just the five-a-sides they are doing and meaningless passing drills – you can really see they work on patterns.”