Mellon plays down role in Vardy’s rise to stardom

Scottish boss handed Leicester striker quick debut at Fleetwood

As Leicester legend Jamie Vardy reached a century of English Premier League goals, the man who gave him his break in the professional ranks was about to strike the biggest deal of his career.

Micky Mellon, who is expected to be named Dundee United’s new boss today, was in the Fleetwood hot seat in 2011 when they paid £150,000 to sign the future England international from Halifax Town.

While Vardy was putting Crystal Palace to the sword with a double on Saturday, taking his top-flight tally to 101, Mellon was waiting for the Tangerines and Tranmere Rovers to reach an agreement for him to return to Scotland after three decades away from home.

The Paisley-born coach, 48, has always adopted a modest approach to discussions about his own role in Vardy’s astonishing rise.

In 2015, Mellon – who appeared for a host of clubs down south during his playing career including Blackpool, Burnley and Rovers – insisted: “I don’t want to come across as someone jumping on the Jamie Vardy bandwagon.”

Since their days at Fleetwood, the Foxes No 9 has won the title, starred in the Champions League and scored seven goals in 26 appearances for England, also featuring at Euro 2016 and the World Cup in Russia two years later.

But his old gaffer and life in the lower leagues were still fresh in the memory when he launched his own V9 Academy four years ago.

Vardy, 33, said: “I moved to Fleetwood on the last day of the window. There was a game that night and I was expecting to be on the bench.

“I turned up looking forward to being in the squad, and then the manager Micky Mellon called me into his office and said I was starting.

“I managed to put in a man of the match performance and end up with three staples in my head, from a York centre-half’s teeth going into it.”

Mellon – who also worked with England duo Jack Butland and John Stones during his time as Barnsley caretaker and assistant boss – was blown away by Vardy’s talents.

In 2016, he said: “There was a lot of interest in him but nobody wanted to make that jump. I’ve heard some people say they were going to buy him. Well, why didn’t you?

“I went to my chairman and told him it was worth taking a gamble on this kid. It was a lot of money for Fleetwood but the chairman never even blinked.

“It was probably the best decision the two of us made because look at what the boy has gone on to do.

“When he came in and got among us, it became clear he could go further. I actually said to his agent he could play for England.

“He was greyhound-quick. And when I say aggressive, he was really aggressive. When people get angry they lose their focus, but he had this ability to turn anger into energy.

“So probably the worst thing you can do is make him angry. It’s no surprise to see what he’s done.

“I worked with John Stones (as assistant manager) at Barnsley as well. He was the same.

“They have this calmness about them that nothing is going to stop them getting the most out of their ability.”

Last year ex-England manager Sam Allardyce expressed regret about his decision to ignore a Vardy recommendation from Mellon, a former player of his at Blackpool, during his time in charge at West Ham.

He said: “Micky Mellon at Fleetwood Town said, ‘Jamie Vardy’s going to turn your club around, you should sign him.

“It’ll cost you £1 million, he doesn’t want to stay with us, he wants to move higher, I think he can play for you at West Ham. He’d be great.’

“I went to my chairman and told him it was worth taking a gamble on this kid. MICKY MELLON ON JAMIE VARDY

“It’s something I’ve looked back on and regretted ever since.”

The Scot, who looks to have beaten off competition from SFA performance director Malky Mackay for the Tangerines job, has an impressive record in the lower leagues down south and is regarded as a promotion and playoff specialist.

Yet, until the past few days, little was known about Mellon the man-manager.

Former Aberdeen and Fulham defender Jack Grimmer, now at Wycombe, says: “I went to Shrewsbury three times and that speaks volumes about Micky.