Sean Dillon is still adapting to life after Tannadice, but has no regrets about joining Montrose

For 10 years during the football season, most mornings Sean Dillon would leave his home in Inchture and drive to St Andrews for Dundee United training.

That routine stopped at the start of June when the loyal club servant’s time at Tannadice ended.

Dillon has a trove of Tangerine-tinted memories that will stay with him forever, including a Scottish Cup triumph over Ross County in May 2010.

However, as his United career closed, another chapter in his life opened. The genial Irishman had a host of clubs, full-time and part-time, eager to snap him up, so more than a few eyebrows were raised when he opted for League 2 Montrose.

Dillon says he is still adjusting to being parttime but has never regretted his decision to take on a player/coach role with Stewart Petrie’s Gable Endies, who are sitting at the top of the table and have a key game at Elgin City this afternoon.

The experienced defender would like nothing better than for the Angus club – and his former side United – to both go up this season.

The 34-year-old said: “I spoke to a few sides after leaving United. It felt like a lot longer to get a club than it actually was. It was only a few weeks, really.

“When I finished up at United I had a couple of days in Dundee and then we went on holiday for a fortnight.

“It was during the two weeks that I started taking some calls. I had a few people on to me.

“As far as full-time options were concerned, I would have been looking at a move. There was nothing available for me to commute and stay in Inchture.

“So that kind of knocked the full-time stuff out of the window as I didn’t want to move unless it was something we really fancied. I like where I am and where we live. My missus Michelle and my boys Shéa and Finn are happy.

“I also spoke to a few of the part-time clubs and had some really good conversations with a lot of good managers.

“But the manager here sold it well to me, and being part of the coaching staff definitely helped. That had a pull for me as it is something I would like to do.

“But I suppose you just go with your gut feeling. I have always done that throughout my career with decisions I have made. I have weighed it up, spoken to different people, done as much homework as you can do, then made a decision.

“I just had a gut feeling, and at the end I decided to go with it.”

Having opted to sign for a part-time side, Dillon had to find a “day job”.

He said: “I also definitely need to be working. At the moment I am involved with the Skilz Academy at Soccerworld.

“I am in there Monday to Thursday for three hours each afternoon working with kids of all ages and all abilities. I am really, really enjoying that. We are still trying to get the message out there that we are a football academy based on making improvements to all kids. We are not an elite academy.

“That’s my afternoon stuff, but I am in the middle of doing a personal training course as well.

“I have just converted my garage at the house into a little gym.

“So I am looking into a couple of different things. But I certainly need to work, there is no doubt about that.

“It is still a transitional period for me. I don’t think I have adapted 100% just yet.

“Instead of going to training, you are getting the kids sorted before the school run. Then you come back and you try to make sure you are doing your bit, or spending some time in the gym, or studying.

“But I am still trying to adapt to everything and I think it is going to be a long adjustment. I don’t think it is going to be straightforward. It is a big change and mentally it is challenging.

“Physically it is tough as well. You want to stay fit but officially I am only training twice a week. You still want to look after yourself, so you also have to do a lot of stuff off your own bat.

“It is a big change but I am definitely enjoying it. “It also helps when things are going well at the club.

“It would be a fantastic finish to the season if Montrose and United could both win promotion.”

Dillon, who has played under managers including Craig Levein and Peter Houston, is hugely impressed with the job Petrie has done since taking over as Montrose boss in December 2016.

At that time the Gable Endies were at the bottom of the table, but the new gaffer has helped transform the club on and off the pitch. Dillon said: “The manager has been excellent. “I have been lucky. I would say I have got on with most of the managers I have worked with, if not them all, obviously some better than others.

“But Stewart has been really good. He has been really helpful for me.

“Stewart bringing me in was a big confidence boost for me and where I want to be with my coaching. So he has been excellent.

“I have had a lot of people coming up to me and saying ‘you have made a big impact since you arrived in the summer’, but for me the changearound happened that December for the club, not the summer.

“You just have to look where the manager has taken the team and club from since he took over,” he said.

“You only have to look at his record since he came into the club.

“He deserves a huge amount of credit and hopefully we will continue to improve.”

“It would be a fantastic finish to the season if Montrose and United could both win promotion