Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘No big dramas’ as Mellon and backroom staff take pay cuts
DUNDEE United manager Micky Mellon has taken a wage cut along with all the backroom staff at Tannadice.
With Scottish football’s precarious financial position to the fore as clubs await receipt of the emergency coronavirus rescue cash from the Scottish Government, Mellon has made his own personal contribution to the Tangerines’ cause.
It was back in late October that owner Mark Ogren confirmed wage reductions were on the agenda in order to help ease the pandemic pain.
Talks with players rumble on in the background but the United boss has confirmed he has agreed a cut, just a few months after signing his contract in the summer.
Mellon, who take his team to Easter Road to play Hibs on Saturday, said: “Negotiations are ongoing (but) the staff have all taken cuts, myself included.
“It is something we wanted to do but the players are still in negotiations with that.
“Again, there are no big dramas. “It is an individual thing and players have their own positions and the club has been brilliant in knowing that is the case.
“You can’t just drop it on them and it has to be spoken about.
“From a personal point of view, it was what I was willing to do and felt I could,” he added.
“Everybody has their own personal position and people have different lifestyles.
“There are no crowds coming in and quite rightly every club is struggling at the minute.
“Sacrifices have to be made to keep the club moving on and it was something I wanted to do.”
Meanwhile United hope to have assistant boss Stevie Frail watching them play at Easter Road.
Frail has been ill with the coronavirus and missed the Tangerines’ last two games away to Livingston and at home to Rangers.
Mellon has this week welcomed back his self-isolating group of players.
He now would love to complete the jigsaw be witnessing the return of the club’s number two to the group when they face Hibs in Edinburgh on Saturday.
Mellon said: “He (Frail) is improving but is still not back with us yet.
“I am hoping he might be able to show his face (on Friday) and then be at the game on Saturday but he is still not back with us yet.
“We hope he will be on the mend.”
Mellon finds himself with considerably more selection options than he had against Rangers last Sunday, with the likes of Nicky Clark, Calum Butcher and Luke Bolton all expected to be available again.
He will need all the resources he can muster when facing a Hibees team that has just reached the semi-finals of the Betfred Cup as well as still going strong in the Premiership.
Mellon said: “We have had Hibs watched as much as we need to and I saw them against Dundee recently. We know it is a brilliant challenge and a fantastic opportunity for us against a Hibs team that is at the top end of the division.
“They are getting results, are scoring goals and have good pace in attacking areas.
“We know there is enough there and we, like against Rangers, will need to be the best version of ourselves possible to give