Asghar grows thicker skin in development of the Terrors

TONY Asghar has learned to steer clear of Twitter – but he is still acutely aware of the discourse.

“I’ve got social media that says ‘Asghar Out’ all of the time,” notes the Dundee United sporting director. “There’s even a hashtag for it.”

Asghar, by his own admission, is a lightning rod for criticism.

Charged by United owner Mark Ogren with overseeing the development of the football club, his suitability and motives have been questioned with some regularity.

He cites being dubbed a dictator and a bully.

However, Asghar is keen to emphasise that his sole focus is ensuring United field a winning team and continue to progress.

“When I first came in, I said I was going to read social media and get on the forums,” Asghar told DUTV. “But I don’t read it any more.

“It was a big learning curve for me.

“For all the good things we have done, I’ve made loads of mistakes. But you never make the same mistake twice.”

Recalling one error of judgment in particular, he reflects: “I shouldn’t have taken a picture of Robbie Neilson with a Corona bottle when lockdown was on. That put us on the front page of the paper.

“As an ex-police officer that’s not very good when the police are calling you up and saying: ‘what are you doing there?’”

Going back to the wider view of the United chief, he added: “The perception of me is difficult.

“There was a preconceived idea of me when I first came in. The word ‘agent’ was used a lot. People said I was taking money from the club.

“If Mark Ogren really believed that, then he wouldn’t give me the autonomy to make sure the football department was running the way it is.

“Others thought I didn’t have any experience. But if you go to England or any other countries, people will tell you I’ve done more work there than I have in Scotland.

“I don’t like having to justify myself. I want things to be based on my results or how the club has done well but I do, sometimes, take stick.

“I’ve got a son (Adam Asghar, coach) at the club. I’ve got a son and daughter and wife. My wife doesn’t come to the games, which is disappointing.

“We are putting our heart and soul into this and trying to make sure we do things right.”

And much has undoubtedly gone right this term.

While the football has not always been scintillating – a fact Asghar readily accepts – the results are inarguable.

Fourth place is the club’s highest finish since 2013-14 and they will compete in Europe for the first time in a decade next term.

Three-and-a-half years on from Ogren’s takeover, Asghar allows himself some satisfaction at the progress.

“When I came in I had Brian Grant and Dave Bowman in the room,” he recalled. “There was no heating on in the room.

“They had their jackets zipped fully up with beanie hats on and were absolutely freezing.

“Grant had to go to the launderette to clean strips for the under-16s. There was nothing there.

“We had to come in with a sledgehammer and do things differently.

“We have grown a lot and changed a lot of mindsets.”

Tony Asghar is still on the ball despite the stick.