Micky’s a meal model
64 Sunday Mail
Ian Black doubled up as Micky Mellon’s midfield enforcer and sous chef at Shrewsbury Town.
He’s well aware of what makes the front runner for t he Du ndee Uni t ed manager’s job tick, as well as his recipe for success.
Black would spend the night before home matches dining at his gaffer’s cottage as Mellon took his fellow Scot under his wing.
The former Rangers star believes the 48- year- old saved his career after his exit from Ibrox and has no doubt he can keep Dundee United on an upward trajectory.
Black said: “Micky is a gentleman, one of the best.
“When I signed for him I’d be commuting from Preston but Micky had a wee cottage near the ground where he would have me round for dinner before games.
“He realised I was coming down and staying in a Travelodge on my own so he looked after me.
“There would be no talk about the next day’s game, that was strictly off limits.
“I would try and work out if I would be in the starting line-up but he didn’t bat an eyelid. I was cooking one day and I remember I made him a spicy paella.
“I never gave him food poisoning and I never got dropped so it must have been all right.
“Micky saved my football career. He helped me massively at a time when I left Rangers and struggled to find a club.
“He took a gamble on me and I would like to think I paid him back.”
Mel lon now holds the reins at Tranmere Rovers and has guided them to back-to-back promotions.
But Black reckons it could be time for a new challenge and he’s convinced United would be on to a winner.
It was Mellon who helped turn Jamie Vardy into a star and the Leicester man hit his 100th Premier League goal yesterday.
Black said: “Micky would be good for players like Lawrence Shankland. He knows how to develop.
“He was the manager who took Jamie Vardy from Halifax to Fleetwood and that turned out not too bad.”