The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Players will be disappointed and frustrated, claims legend McAlpine.
Dundee United legend Hamish McAlpine says the club’s players will be “frustrated and disappointed” after being placed on furlough leave.
Robbie Neilson’s stars, along with several United employees, were yesterday put on the government’s Coronavirus Retention Scheme, which will pay 80% of salaries up to £2,500 a month.
In a bid to save costs, the Tangerines are now down to a “skeleton staff” which includes manager Neilson and sporting director Tony Asghar.
Managing director Mal Brannigan outlined the Championship leaders’ Covid-19 measures in a statement just after lunchtime.
United great McAlpine, 72, said: “Obviously, the players will be frustrated and disappointed. There will be concerns about their futures but they should be okay when the powers that be decide football can be played again.
“It’s definitely frustrating for them. They were on a wee sticky spell there before shutdown, winning only one of their last five matches.
“But there were a couple of draws in there and the important thing was that none of the other teams really took advantage, or they could have been under a bit of pressure.
“They’ll be thinking that if they had won those last few games before the shutdown they might be over the line by now and already be the champions.
“However, to be 14 points clear with so little of the season left is a great position to be in and the players and Robbie Neilson will be desperate to get back out there to finish the job.
“But right now they’re in limbo. Nobody knows when they’ll play again. Or even if the season is going to get finished.
“If the authorities can make their mind up, they can have a bit of clarity. The club could say to the players, ‘Right this is the day we restart training to build ourselves up again’.
“I don’t think they’ll lose too much fitness because these days players look after themselves away from the training ground.
“They won’t be match fit – but neither will the players they’ll be up against.”
United’s title fate remains up in the air as the SPFL weigh up their options, which include opting for an “as-itstands” finish to the 2019-20 campaign, exploring the possibility of closed-door games to get it finished and voiding the season completely.
McAlpine – a title winner and two-time League Cup winner with United – added: “As we all know, football is secondary to everything else that is going on at the moment, but the games will be played again at some point.
“I don’t think the league will be declared null and void. It would be harsh on them if that did happen.
“But nobody knows what will happen. All they can think about just now, in line with everyone else, is following the advice to try to keep healthy.”
Meanwhile, McAlpine’s fellow Tannadice legend Dave Bowman has touched on the uncertainty facing the football world during the Covid-19 shutdown.
Bowman – now a player transition coach at the club – said: “The worst parts are the not knowing when things will resume and wondering what the situation is going to be like when football does return.
“It’s like the greens on a golf course. They have to keep them in good condition for when people start playing golf again.
“They can’t just wake up when you’re allowed to play and make the greens ready that day. Footballers are the same, which is why I know they’ll all be busy with their own training programmes even though they’re cooped up in their houses or only allowed out once a day.”