Holt is still Utd glory haunter
Dundee United legend John Holt admits he’s staggered at how far his former club have fallen.
Holt was a key member of Jim McLean’s legendary Tannadice team of the 1980s who beat Barcelona home and away en route to the final of the UEFA Cup.
The former United favourite knows those days are long gone and an opening- day league defeat to Dunferml ine last weekend at Tannadice underlined that.
United’s failure to win promotion to the Premiership last season still rankles with the one-time midfielder and defender – and the early exit from the Betfred League Cup also jolted the supporters.
Holt was a happier man yesterday after Csaba Laszlo’s side grabbed their first win of the Championship campaign – a 2-1 success at Queen of the South.
But the former United favourite wants to see his club back in the Premiership soon and admits their current plight is tough to watch.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said the 61-year-old. “We now see the fans just walking out when they’re unhappy with the team.
“They don’t even boo or jeer, they just leave. That’s what we witnessed against Dunfermline. It’s very sad to see where they are now.
“At the time I played we went into every game with enthusiasm and that got us through many times.
“People like Eammon Bannon and Paul Sturrock showed that. Our attitude in the eighties was that we expected to be in Europe every year.
“We had great nights at Tannadice aga inst teams l i ke Borussia Monchengladbach, Roma, in the European Cup semi-final, and IFK Gothenburg in the two- legged UEFA Cup Final.
“It’s dif f icult to see that ever happening again as football has changed so much.”
Yesterday’s victory in Dumfries aside, United’s start to the season has been underwhelming.
Holt accepted life is tough for gaffer Laszlo, appointed only last November to succeed the sacked Ray McKinnon, and knows the Hungarian’s fortunes must change for the better.
He said: “Laszlo is trying his best. Some chairman might have let him go by now, especially after going out of the Betfred Cup but he might turn things around.
“The manager is playing the kind of football he wants to play and that’s okay. But at the end of the day it’s his neck that’s on the line.
“It’s going to be very difficult for the team to win promotion this season, with Inverness Caley Thistle, Ross County and other sides like Dunfermline vying for a place in the Premiership.
“But it’s only the start of the season and things can change. There’s a long way to go.”