They tried to Csaba-tage Nicky swoop
The snipers were out for Nicky Clark when Csaba Laszlo considered signing him for Dundee United.
The former Tannadice head coach revealed he listened to lots of advice cautioning him against making a move to sign the striker for United.
But Laszlo refused to let his opinion be sabotaged, a decision that helped Clark on his journey to becoming a top-f light favourite at Tannadice.
The 29-year-old – their top scorer with 10 goals this season – inked a new two- year contract on Thursday as United fended off an approach from Dundee.
That was reward for Clark elevating his castiron Championship scoring form to the Premiership stage – something Laszlo was told wouldn’t be possible.
Laszlo swooped to land Clark from Dunfermline in May 2018 and he said: “After the first time I saw Nicky for Dunfermline, I said: ‘ This guy definitely has to play in our club next season. He’s the goal-scorer you need if you want to move ahead.’
“But everyone told me not to touch Nicky.
“I heard he would be a hero for two games then, after one month, be injured. And they told me he wasn’t a player for the Premiership.
“But I took Nicky. He was injured in the beginning but, believe me, he knows where the goal is. I don’t ever regret that Nicky came to Dundee United.
“I really think he is best as a second striker. His fantastic timing and balance impressed me – he has instincts that you cannot learn in training.
“You either have it or don’t. God gave him this.
“When the ball drops to him, he always has himself in the right shape to have a go at goal – but he can be even better.”
Laszlo was axed three months after signing Clark, who helped Robbie Neilson’s team to the Championship title last season and is now ahead of midweek scoring hero Lawrence Shankland and Marc McNulty in the Tannadice goal charts.
Shankland, who netted a sensational 53-yarder against St Johnstone on Tuesday, was also of interest to Laszlo when the striker played for Ayr.
But Laszlo, now in charge of Indian Super League side Chennaiyin, thinks Holland would be a better country for Shankland and Clark to f lourish as a strike partnership.
He claimed: “In another league maybe they are a proper partnership – but not Scotland.
“In Scotland you want one striker who is strong, fast and can head the ball.
“In Holland, definitely, it’s different football. I encourage many good players to look outside the normal.
“Sometimes the crowd mentality in Scotland is they want the ball going forward quickly and you fight for the second ball.
“Shankland is not the player for this, nor is Nicky. The ball into feet is what they need.”