It was the calm before the storm as Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara formally met his new charges for the first time on Thursday.
The 39-year-old spoke to the media before he and assistant Simon Donnelly introduced themselves to the players inside the club’s St Andrews training base.
Apart from the roar from a passing jet or two from RAF Leuchars, it was a gentle introduction to the job for McNamara.
However, having succeeded Peter Houston as boss at Tannadice, he is fully aware he is set for a red-hot baptism of fire in his first match in charge Saturday’s contentious William Hill Scottish Cup tie against Rangers.
McNamara, who was formally unveiled on Wednesday after leaving Partick Thistle, is also under no illusions that despite Ally McCoist’s side currently playing in the Third Division, his players are set for a stern test.
He said: “I will be going to speak to the players and I am really looking forward to meeting them. All the apprehension from Wednesday is over and I cannot wait to start working with the lads and preparing for a big game on Saturday.
“I have been looking at matches involving both teams and was having a sleepless night thinking about it all,” he smiled. “But it is an exciting and big challenge that I am looking forward to.
“I have seen a few games involving Rangers this season. They still have a lot of quality in their squad and we know it is going to be a hard game but, if we do the right things, we should be OK.
“It is up to other people to decide whether we are favourites or not. We will give them every respect but it is up to our players to concentrate on their own performances.”
Of course, Rangers will be without their usual substantial backing for the game following a much-publicised boycott by the majority of their fans.
McNamara admitted that should make for a strange atmosphere but he also sees it as a chance for the home support to turn out in big numbers.
He said: “It would be great for the club if the fans pack out Tannadice. It will be a strange one as well with little away support for Rangers.
“But hopefully, we will have a big support cheering the team on to victory.”
With so many sub-plots surrounding the game, it would be easy for the players to become distracted by off-field matters but McNamara is confident that will not happen.
He said: “The players are professionals and they won’t be caught up in that or at least we will tell them not to get caught up in it.”
There are a few players inside the United dressing-room, such as Jon Daly, Sean Dillon and Keith Watson, who know what it takes to win a Scottish Cup.
However, their new manager and former Celtic skipper can still teach them a thing or two about how to be a success in the competition.
He added: “I won the cup three times and managed to score in one, a sclaff against Hibs.
“That’s probably my favourite memory from the cup, to score in a final and to win it is always special.”