United vow to fund McKinnon’s recruitment drive

Dundee United will back manager Ray McKinnon to win them the Championship title next season with the biggest budget in the division.

Courier Sport understands that while the figures have still to be finalised, McKinnon will be given the funds necessary to build a squad capable of securing promotion as champions.

Talks between the United boss, who has the full support of the Tannadice board despite the loss to Hamilton Accies in the play-off final on Sunday, and his players will continue this week.

He will then embark on a major rebuilding job.

Sean Dillon, Paul Dixon, Willo Flood, Stewart Murdoch, Blair Spittal, Frank van der Struijk, Charlie Telfer and Luis Zwick have all reached the end of their contracts, while Simon Murray is off to Hibs.

Also, Tony Andreu, Thomas Mikkelsen and Alex Nicholls have ended their loan spells and will return to their parent clubs.

That means that of the team that started against Hamilton, only goalkeeper Cammy Bell and central defensive duo Mark Durnan and William Edjenguele remain under contract.

McKinnon has already secured James Keatings from Hibs and ex-Hearts player Billy King, though, and he will have funds for his substantial recruitment drive.

The good news regarding the budget is also accompanied by reassurances coming out of the club that the financial position – contrary to reports elsewhere – is robust enough to cope with staying down.

Indeed, the net loss in the current financial year could be around half of last year’s £1.55 million, around £500,000 of which was spent on emergency – or panic – buys in a vain bid to stave off relegation by ex-boss Mixu Paatelainen.

That is a gap that could be bridged by the sale of former player Andrew Robertson by Hull City, with United entitled to 15% of any future fee when the full-back gets his move.

The club’s debt stands at £1.9 million, which is a substantial figure but not historically high for United and less than the valuation of the club’s assets.

Those assets have had security taken out on them by soft loanees Cath Thompson, Alastair Borthwick and David Hamilton but the board is relaxed about that situation.

Also, the understanding is that there will be no new staff cuts as a result of missing out on promotion and other areas such as the youth policy will remain intact.

Efforts will also be made as early as Friday to address supporters’ concerns, with chairman Stephen Thompson meeting representatives of the various fans’ groups.

Of course, many of the people he will be facing want him out and Thompson, who has remortgaged his house during a challenging period in charge at Tannadice, remains open to selling his majority shareholding for a realistic price.

American-based supporter Borthwick handed the club £300,000 in March to help with cashflow but is not considered to be a potential buyer.

He could be the source of further investment, though, along with Edinburgh-based Hugh Duncan.

As well as those backers, Thompson is also understood to be in talks with other parties – not believed to be local – about investing in United. MCKINNON BACKED:

Ray McKinnon: backed by the board.

Stephen Thompson: will meet the fans on Friday.