Ellis given chance to fill United post

Interim boss can stake claim as interest grows after Laszlo exit

Laurie Ellis will be in the dugout for the match at Ayr and has a fighting chance of becoming Dundee United boss on a permanent basis.

Ellis was named interim manager by chairman Mike Martin on Sunday as part of the announcement that the club had parted company with Csaba Laszlo in the wake of the embarrassing home loss to Ross County.

It is the second time the former Raith Rovers player has been placed in temporary charge of United as he also stepped up after Ray McKinnon’s departure in October 2017.

He enjoyed a successful spell first time around and led the team to Championship wins over Dumbarton and St Mirren, the latter result taking United joint top of the league.

Ellis is taking training this week and will carry out media duties ahead of the Ayr clash.

He will get the chance to make the job his own – if he wants it – because should he lead United to victory over the Honest Men he would then get a shot at the Partick Thistle match at Firhill the following Saturday.

Another winning run as coach would make it very difficult for the board to ignore him, even though the number of expressions of interest in the vacancy already runs into double figures.

Ellis is definitely being viewed as a serious option inside Tannadice, with other leading candidates to replace Laszlo being Robbie Neilson and Jim McIntyre.