Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Tangerines will set bar high on top-flight return
DUNDEE United chief Mal Brannigan believes the club should be pushing for Europe and Scottish fo o t b a l l ’s top pr i zes on their ret urn to the Premiership.
The Terrors will take a seat at the top table when the new season starts after the decision to call the lower leagues and dish out titles amid the coronavirus pandemic.
United are targeting a top-six spot next term but managing director Brannigan thinks, in the long run, they should be setting their sights higher.
He admits they have ambitious plans to become a silverwarewinning power in Scottish football once more with the backing of American owner Mark Ogren already helping them to the Championship title.
“We all believe we’re back in the division where this football club should be,” Brannigan asserted.
“It’s taken us a little bit of time but you have to look at the impact Mark and Scott Ogren have had since they came here.
“The football side of the club from Tony Asghar and the commercial side has been about increasing the profile of Tannadice and the club at the same time.
“We firmly believe that we belong in the top flight. We need to have that ambition and focus within us, when you look at the size of the club and the potential which comes from the fanbase and the city, to aim for the top six.
“If you measure on those factors, we are a top-six club and we have historically been one.
“Our focus is primarily on doing that again, competing for every trophy on the domestic sphere and pushing for potential European spots.”
The Tangerines were wellsupported en route to their second-tier crown last season, with crowds of 8,000 regularly seen at Tannadice.
Brannigan hopes there is a similar, if not better, response for the forthcoming campaign after the club opened season ticket sales on Saturday.
The former Sheffield United chief admits it’s been a challenge trying to put together a package for fans with no idea how the league will l ook amid SPFL reconstruction.