Malpasin callfora Utdfront
MAURICE MALPAS has urged the Dundee United squad to step into the light of the new dawn, ignore past turmoil and squint their eyes back on promotion.
The Tannadice legend is adamant the exit of Stephen Thompson and the arrival of new chairman Mike Martin has removed much of the off-field instability which has dogged the season.
Fans have been up in arms at Thompson’s running of the club and angry at players underachieving in their quest for a top-flight return.
But with a new regime at the helm Malpas says it’s time to refocus and Martin will tonight attempt to win over fans when he holds talks with representatives of the main supporters’ groups at Tannadice.
United are fourth in the Championship, in the last play-off spot, but sit 17 points adrift of leaders St Mirren.
But Malpas has stated a United front between boardroom, dressing room and stands can help instigate a recovery in the faltering top-flight mission.
He said: “Promotion is still there and that has been forgotten. A lot of people think there is no chance but nothing is certain in football apart from uncertainty.
“If the fans get behind the team and the team reacts, it can turn. Knowing football players there might have been a few thinking there’s a bit of unrest behind the scenes so we can sit back.
“That unrest has been taken away now. They have to react and show they want to get the club up. Not talk about it, do it.” GREG DOCHERTY has a body built for battle like Hercules but preaches peace like the Dalai Lama.
On Sunday, Docherty will need both qualities more than ever when he steps out at Ibrox for his first taste of an Old Firm fixture that tests a man’s strength of mind as much as muscle.
His former boss Martin Canning has no doubt the unflappable 21-year-old Rangers midfielder will take it all in his stride.
In five years of working with Docherty at Hamilton, Canning saw a maturity and strength of spirit to match the physical prowess born from his background as a promising athlete.
As a rising star in the Scottish Schools athletics set-up, he was a 400 metres runner destined for the Commonwealth Games but ultimately chose to focus on his football as part of Hamilton’s