The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Tangerines put Neilson at top of boss wishlist
UNITED: Former Hearts manager is No 1 choice to replace Laszlo
Robbie Neilson is to be offered the opportunity to become the new Dundee
United manager.
The Tangerines want him to replace Csaba Laszlo in the dugout and talks have been held between Neilson and the club.
Now that United chairman Mike Martin and his directors have put the former Hearts and MK Dons boss at the top of their wishlist, they will want to move quickly.
However, this process could be as much about Neilson deciding United are right for him as the other way about.
It is understood that the former defender, who spent season 2011-12 at Tannadice, was offered and turned down the chance to become the new St Mirren gaffer because he did not think it was the correct fit for him.
United, who have placed Laurie Ellis in interim charge of the team, lost 2-0 to Ayr at Somerset Park on Saturday and face Partick Thistle – themselves without a manager after Alan Archibald’s departure – this weekend.
Paul McMullan vowed Dundee United will get it right on and off the park despite a defeat by Ayr United which leaves them eight points behind the surprise Championship leaders.
The midfielder said the players had been desperate to make it a winning start for caretaker boss Laurie Ellis.
But hopes of Ellis pushing his claims following the departure of Csaba Laszlo came unstuck as Ayr kept up their stunning start to the season with a fourth league win on the trot.
McMullan claimed: “It’s never an easy week when you lose your manager.
“But Laurie has filled in great and we’re disappointed as a group that we couldn’t thank him with three points on the pitch.
“I can only speak for myself but I don’t have any problem with confidence at the moment.
“Sometimes you go through spells like today where Ayr took their chances and we didn’t. It was one of those days.
“We all have to pull together and go in the same direction. Whether it takes three or four weeks to get it right, that’s the way it goes. It’s still early in the season and there are plenty of points to play for.
“It’s nothing to do with the players who come in, we just want to go out and enjoy our football.
“I’m sure the board will get the right person that can get us back up to the Premiership.
“If you can come in and enjoy your football and produce five or 10% extra, that’s important.
“So we know the people upstairs will get someone in who can help us on the pitch.”
Ellis felt the return of key players was a positive factor and there are good signs for the future.
He said: “Fraser Fyvie and Billy King both came in probably a little bit ahead of where they should be but were desperate to play.
“It is testament to how they have gone about things. They are great pros who have worked hard all week.
“They wanted to play – there was no gun to their head – and we wanted them back. It was great also to get Sam Stanton back on the pitch as he’s another top player that we need.
“The players have been magnificent and worked really hard. I know how much they wanted to get a result.
“This is a group of players who really want to get back playing to a better standard and winning points for their club.
“I am really disappointed for them as I wanted them to be rewarded for a tough week with a good result.”
Ayr boss Ian McCall, who was sacked by United in 2005, has worked wonders leading his team to top spot on a small budget.
Pulling the midfield strings was 36-year-old Mark Kerr who played 164 games in a five-season stint at Tannadice before moving on 10 years ago.
McCall admitted he was baffled that only 456 United fans travelled to Ayr.
He claimed: “The atmosphere was really good but you could tell there was apathy at Dundee United by their away support.
“I was thinking they would bring maybe 1,000 because of what happened during the week.”
Swiss keeper Benjamin Siegrist came in for his league debut, one of five changes from the 5-1 defeat by Ross County which led to Laszlo’s departure.
But the newcomer was helpless after 21 minutes when Lawrence Shankland ran on to a Michael Moffat through pass to slide the ball under him for his 18th goal of the season and his 47th from 47 starts.
United piled forward and a cute flick from Pavol Safranko produced a brilliant instinct save from on-loan Celtic keeper Ross Doohan.
Christoph Rabitsch fired into the side netting and Frederick Fans had a header from a Fyvie cross well saved.
But there were danger signs aplenty when Ayr burst forward and Siegrist foiled the hungry Shankland before being saved by the bar when sub Declan McDaid sent in a stinging effort.
The keeper was powerless with 17 minutes to go when Andy Murdoch’s pass into the box was volleyed home by McDaid.
The visitors were denied even a consolation when a strike from sub Yannick Loemba rattled the crossbar.