Ellis focused on bigger picture

DUNDEE UNITED: Interim boss insists his situation is merely a sideshow

Laurie Ellis has called his own job situation a “sideshow” and claimed the only thing that matters is the welfare of Dundee United.

Ellis has been appointed interim manager in the wake of Csaba Laszlo’s departure last weekend following the 5-1 thrashing from Ross County.

It is understood that he has not been given a set number of matches in which to convince chairman Mike Martin that he deserves a pop at the permanent post. Thus it will be game by game for the former Raith Rovers defender, starting with tomorrow’s daunting-looking trip west to face Championship leaders Ayr United.

This will be his second time as Tannadice caretaker coach, of course, after stepping into the breach following Ray McKinnon’s exit last year.

There will be intense interest on his team selection and tactics but the man himself insists what really matters is the bigger picture.

Ellis said: “I met with the chairman on Sunday and he explained the situation (regarding Laszlo), which we were all really disappointed about.

“He asked me to take control of things for a few days just to settle things down and get the boys back on the training pitch.

“We’ve spoken every day and every one of those conversations has been about the weekend, the boys, the situation here and how they are feeling because there were a lot of disappointed people in that changing room.

“I just have to do my job.”

“No way did we think we’d do well in pre-season but then have no points on the board after six games,” added the winger.

“However, after Hamilton everyone is positive.

“You can’t not be. The way we’ve been playing, we’ve been creating chances and playing well despite not getting points.

“Everyone is buzzing in training, raring to go and wanting to do well for Dundee.”

Deacon’s early season frustrations were a consequence of an injury picked up in the last game of the previous campaign.

He said: “I had ankle surgery the first week into pre-season.

“I twisted it and damaged ankle ligaments in the game against Partick and through the summer it didn’t heal itself.

“Initially the surgeon didn’t want to operate but it didn’t heal so we made the decision to go under the knife to sort it out.

“I was supposed to be back a little earlier than this but on the first session back I re-injured my thigh, which was a problem I had last season. So I needed a bit of intense rehabilitation on that to get back. Now though, I’m fit and ready to go.”

Meanwhile, Kenny Miller, who is available for selection against Kilmarnock tomorrow after serving a two-game ban, believes the Hamilton win can be the turning point of Dundee’s season.

He said: “We have a group at Dundee that is great at the moment. We just didn’t get that break, but there was a really positive environment at the club which the manager has created.

“We just needed that little break and hopefully that is what we got on Saturday.

“We got that first win and, although we did ride our luck a little bit at times, I felt we were the better team and deserved it.

“But if you have got that togetherness in your dressing room then there is no limit as to how far you can go.”