Gaffer appears to have put Tangerines on correct path

first-team backroom staff, only goalkeeping coach Neil Alexander has survived.

Despite that, perhaps the biggest change in Neilson’s time so far has been the stability he’s helped bring to the club.

By making most of his signings in January, for once in recent times United have gone into a season with a largely settled line-up.

Seven of the starters at Firhill last Friday night were at the club at the end of last season and that’s surely been a factor i n the impressive start.

It should be said, unlike his predecessors, Neilson has benefited from stability in another area of the club, namely via the arrival of new owner Mark Ogren in December.

Going back to the final days of McNamara’s time, the other managers have worked in the knowledge a change of regime at boardroom level was always a possibility.

Now it’s become a fact, Neilson has at least known those employing him have a long-term strategy and he’s been able to get on with the job of implementing the areas he’s been responsible for.

The calm manner in which he’s gone about that has also been a positive but the biggest plus have been the results he’s been chalking up.

Of the three previous managers who’ve been in charge, he has comfortably the best record with a 58.5% win rate and, over the course of the next few months, it’s a safe bet that will only improve.

If it does, there has to be a very good chance it will see the one change of these turbulent four years every Arab wants – that return to the top flight.

Csaba Laszlo only lasted 10 months at Tannadice.