The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Patience a virtue for new United defender Quinn
Former Staggies captain delighted long wait paid off
Patience has turned out to be a virtue for Paul Quinn, with the defender’s waiting game being reward by a deal at Dundee United.
Quinn, 32, has spent most of the summer in pre-season training with the Tangerines but only signed last Saturday, taking a seat on the bench for the 2-1 win over Queen of the South at Tannadice.
The former Ross County skipper, who has joined until January, is now looking to kick on and is expected to feature tonight as Ray McKinnon’s men begin the defence of the Irn-Bru Cup at home to Cowdenbeath tonight.
Quinn said: “The original idea was to come in for training over the summer, use the facilities to get fit and then see where it led to.
“The manager maybe wasn’t totally looking to strengthen in the defensive area at that time but it has worked out that both parties wanted to get something done.
“So it has been a good pre-season for me because I know the boys and the set-up and that makes it a lot easier to join a new club.
“Every player will tell you that when they are out of contract there are loads of negotiations and you speak to different clubs. But I spoke to the manager here quite early and I knew there might be a possibility to stay.
“I made my mind up there and then that I would no longer pursue anything else,” added Quinn, whose deal comes at a good deal for United as skipper Tam Scobbie faces up to three months out injured. I wanted to stay but the manager needed time to sort out a few bits and bobs.
“Other people would maybe have thrown the toys out of the pram or thought: ‘Hang on a minute, I’ve been waiting a few weeks.’
“However, I trusted the manager and from the day I came in the door we have been straight with each other.
“So I got my head down and trained hard. I’m grateful it’s now done and everything has worked out great.”
Admission tonight is by paying at the turnstiles, with prices of £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.
Only the lower tiers of the George Fox and Eddie Thompson Stands will be open for home fans as well as the Jerry Kerr Stand sections A, B and C. Away supporters have been allocated section D of the Jerry Kerr.