The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Flood keen to see how Tangerines handle pressure
Willo Flood insists the burden of expectation will sit firmly on the shoulders of his former club Dundee United this season after a summer of “splashing the cash”.
The 33-year-old midfielder left Tannadice at the end of the last campaign and signed for the Tangerines’ Championship rivals Dunfermline earlier this week.
The Irishman, who has also played for Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Celtic and Aberdeen, admits he has been impressed by his new boss Allan Johnston’s own signing business so far and he cannot wait for the start of the new campaign.
However, Flood believes the big financial backing United manager Csaba Laszlo has had in the close season from chairman Mike Martin and the board – with the Tangerines drafting in no fewer than nine new players so far – means all the pressure will be on the Tannadice side when the Championship campaign kicks off.
Flood said: “The manager here at Dunfermline has come in and he’s done a good job since he’s been at the club. He wants to progress and he’s made some decent signings.
“The pressure will be on Dundee United, because they’re obviously splashing the cash.
“To be fair to Mike Martin, he’s really backed the manager.
“Let’s meet the challenge head on and see where it takes us.”
Having spent several seasons at United, Flood knows just how much the expectations of the fans and the stress of trying to win promotion can affect players at the club.
He added: “One hundred per cent the people will feel pressure at Dundee United, because it’s a club that demands being in the Premiership – that’s just the way it is.
“If they start well, they’ll be OK. If they hit a little bumpy road with a few bad results I’m sure they’ll feel the pressure.”