United look to stamp out culture of failure
DUNDEE UNITED chairman Mike Martin insists the days of ‘rewarding mediocrity’ are over at Tannadice. United have wasted no time overhauling their playing squad following a second successive failure to win promotion from the Championship, snapping up Fraser Aird, Craig Curran, Callum Booth, Sam Wardrop and Nicky Clark.
And Martin, who insists every player will be required to live within 25 miles of Dundee as he seeks to create a ‘collegiate’ atmosphere at the club, has left the new recruits and staff in no doubt about what is expected of them after three underwhelming campaigns.
While the bonuses will be handsome if they succeed, Martin was adamant that pay structures will reflect the fact the club are still stuck in the second tier.
Appearing to take a thinlyveiled swipe at previous regimes by declaring the club are sick of forking out for failure, Martin said: ‘We have put a new wage structure in place which is split between Championship and Premiership, ensuring players coming to the club know what they will be paid in the Championship, but also knowing the earning opportunity once we are back in the top flight.
‘Linked to that, we have increased the reward element of total pay. In other words, we are going to reward success — and reward it quite handsomely.
‘However, we’re not going to reward failure. We have been very clear to the players still here — and those joining — that we expect success and are happy to pay for that success. We will not continue to pay for mediocrity.’
Martin, who expects another nine new arrivals before the end of the summer transfer window, also outlined why he wants players to live locally.
‘We want them to live in the Dundee area. We don’t just want them to be part of the team, but also part of the club and community. We have put in place a new rule that says players need to live within a 25-mile radius of Dundee and we believe that will be a major factor in creating the spirit and collegiate nature we want to implement.
‘Getting players who want to come to this club and be part of the community is going to be a massive step forward in terms of our engagement with the fans.’
Martin remains unshaken in his belief that Hungarian coach Csaba Laszlo is still the right man to lead United despite last season’s failure.
‘I have spent a considerable amount of time with Csaba over the last few weeks and months, discussing his vision and plan for football here,’ he told in-house TV channel Arabzone. ‘It’s a good vision and one we should support. I believe he has the strengths and characteristics to implement it.
‘Chopping and changing managers has not done us any favours in the past and some sort of continuity is good for a club. That was also a factor in my decision to work with Csaba.’
On the club’s continued attempts to attract investment to ease the financial challenges brought about by a third campaign in the Ladbrokes Championship, Martin added: ‘Those conversations continue and continue to go very well.
‘Would I like them to be concluded soon? Yes. But, the main thing is I’m very confident they will be concluded.’