Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Booth sees Utd as route back to top
CALLUM Booth quit relegated Partick Thistle for Dundee United because he believes it represents the quickest route back to the Premiership.
The 27-year-old, who had also been linked with Dundee, has moved to Tannadice on a two-year deal under freedom of contract.
He feels it’s the best way of ensuring the stay he was facing in Championship had he signed on again for the Jags, lasts just a season.
“I’m looking forward to being involved in a title chase. That was a major factor in coming here,” is how the left-back put it.
And he was convinced that will be the case after a chat with United assistant boss Laurie Ellis.
The pair know each other, having been team-mates at Raith Rovers during the 2013-14 campaign.
“I knew Laurie pretty well from my time at Raith. We got speaking about the prospect (of j oining United). Since then it has gone pretty quickly.
“Coming to a club like Dundee United is really a pretty simple choice.”
Ironically, with new Morton boss Ray McKinnon considering a move for his old work-mate Ellis, it could be the pair don’t end up working together again next season.
If United can persuade their highly regarded coach to stay, McKinnon could team up with another of his former Tannadice backroom staff, Darren Taylor.
Returning to Booth, after a year spent vainly scrapping to avoid the drop, the ex-Hibs, Arbroath and Brechin man is looking forward to a challenge at the right end of a table.
“Last season was tough and we just couldn’t get away from that drop zone,” he added.
“This will be a different type of pressure, being expected to win most weeks and one which I will relish.”
Booth will battle for the left-back slot with youngster Jamie Robson, who himself last week signed up for another two years at Tannadice.
Manager Csaba Laszlo is pleased to have that kind of competition in the squad and to get a man of Booth’s quality and experience.
“I’m delighted to bring Callum to Dundee United,” he said.
“He is an experienced left-back who has played in the Premiership. Callum will create competition on the left side of our defence and improves the squad. He is a defender who likes to get up the park and helps create attacking situations.”