ANOTHER ROLL OF THE TANNADICE

United set to appoint their 25th gaffer in less than 30 years... and three managers to quit at first opportunity isn’t good look

THEY would be as well installing a revolving door at Tannadice’s entrance given the swirling rate of managerial ins and outs. Incredibly, Dundee United are preparing to announce their 25th boss since the late, great Jim McLean finally unplugged his hairdryer back in 1993. Jack Ross is expected to be the latest man to slide down the never-ending conveyor belt of bosses after Tam Courts’ shock departure on Tuesday. But before he poses for the camera with the tangerine scarf above his head, the former Sunderland, St Mirren and Hibs boss has been told to pause and consider just why the speed of managerial changes has hit warp drive in recent years. Since Robbie Neilson opted to stay put in the second tier with Hearts instead of leading his promotion-winning United team back into the top flight two years ago, the Tangerines have managed to burn their way through a boss a year. Micky Mellon decided he was better off back at Tranmere following a 10-and-a-half month secondment on Tayside and now Courts has called it quits after a single season in charge. As far as former Tannadice hero Steven Pressley is concerned, something doesn’t add up. The 48-year-old said: “I’m not privy to what goes on behind the scenes at Tannadice but the concern I have for Dundee United is that is three managers in quick succession who have all left at the first opportunity. That for me is a worry.

“I know that Micky left under a bit of a cloud, Robbie walked after leading the club to promotion and now Tam has gone too after a successful first season.

“There must be something that’s not quite right at that football club just now.

“The reason it’s a concern is that one of the most important aspects when you’re building a club, like Dundee United are trying to do, is having continuity and stability. But United have not had that at all.

“And it’s not the fact these guys are being sacked or forced out – they’re all leaving of their own accord.

“So there must be something that’s not quite right at the football club behind the scenes.

“That has to be rectified because to build success, which they will want to do through promoting their youth system, continuity and stability of methods is vitally important.

“Tony Asghar [the sporting director] is a guy qualified in football directorship and will be aware that stability is key.” Pressley can understand why Courts – who was yesterday appointed as boss of Hungarian club Budapest Honved – was keen to maximise his potential while his stock is high.

The former Kelty boss was the surprise choice when he landed his first job in the senior ranks, with disgruntled fans accusing the club of adopting a penny-pinching approach with his appointment.

But it turned out to be a profitable arrangement for all concerned, with Courts leading the club to their highest topflight finish in eight years as well as a return to Europe.

Pressley, who made 128 appearances for United during his three-year spell in the City of Discovery, said: “Tam’s had a very good maiden season.

“There were a lot of sceptics out there when he took over but he brought stability, a style of play, and some good results and performances along the way.

“It was important he built on that because management is a game that can change and you can be forgotten quickly.

“It was important he got back in ASAP because there are so many managers out of work chasing so few jobs. He needed to find an opportunity sooner rather than later. I like that he’s prepared to go abroad and learn.

“Sometimes we all want to stay on home shores.

“But I had an experience in Cyprus and I’d encourage all managers, if they get the opportunity, to move out of the comfort zone they have here in Scotland.

“There were times when we had 11 different nationalities on the pitch and we had to manage them accordingly. It was a great learning curve.”

United will hope to finally embark on a long-lasting relationship with their new boss and the same can be said of the favourite for the post.

If Ross is confirmed, he will have chalked up five managerial appointments in six-and-a-half years since starting out at Alloa.

But Pressley said: “The problem with football is that sometimes you can do a lot of good work but if you lose your job, people will call you a failure.

“Jack did a lot of good things at Hibs but went through a difficult period and all of a sudden he was out because people had forgotten about what he’d done prior.

“But you shouldn’t forget about those good moments Jack delivered. It’s the same from his spell at Sunderland.”