United manager tells what gives him his drive

Dund e e Un i t ed manager Micky Mellon has been contacted by To y o t a after namechecking the company in an interview, writes Ian Roache.

The Tannadice boss is bringing out a new book called The First 100 Days: Lessons in Leadership from the Football Bosses.

When chatting about his venture, which includes contributions f rom co a ch in g aristocrac y such as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, Mellon had mentioned about how he had been inspired in his coaching by the business model adopted by the Japanese car maker.

Now they have been back in touch and it appears there is a Un ited supporter lu rk ing in the management team of Toyota Manufacturing UK headquarters in Derby.

Mellon, speaking on the club’s DUTV, said: “When I was telling people about the book, I mentioned that when I did my coaching pro licence I did a study on Toyota.

“I had found out from a friend of mine about its history, leadership principles and how it had been successful.

“Its workforce work to a set of principles called Kaizen ( par t philosophy, part action plan).

“It involves continual learning and if Toyota were a football club it would be fantastic.

“I told the press in an interview about it.

“I said I was using lessons learned from Kaizen at Dundee United and I got contact from Toyota.

“I believe a United fan works there down at their HQ in Derby, so I am going to have a good chat with him.

“For there to be a supporter in the management down there made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It seems too good to be true.”