The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
United look to appoint Mellon
Tranmere Rovers’ Scottish manager emerges as preferred candidate to take over for Tangerines’ return to the Premiership
Tranmere Rovers boss Micky Mellon is the preferred candidate to replace Robbie Neilson as Dundee United manager.
Courier Sport yesterday revealed the Premiership new boys had been given permission by the Merseyside outfit to speak to their gaffer about the vacancy.
It’s understood Mellon, 48, is the man United sporting director Tony Asghar hopes to appoint to the Tannadice hot seat.
The Paisley-born coach – under contract at Tranmere until next summer – has made it clear he wants the chance to manage in Scotland’s top flight.
Mellon has an impressive record in the lower leagues down south, also bossing Fleetwood Town, Barnsley (as caretaker) and Shrewsbury Town.
Rovers were relegated from League One last month after a vote to call the bottom two divisions early on a points-per-game basis.
Former England manager Steve McClaren this week rejected the opportunity to take over from Neilson, while Asghar has also spoken to SFA performance director Malky Mackay and ex-United captain Jon Daly about the job.
St Johnstone legend Tommy Wright and former Tannadice ace Billy McKinlay have also been linked with the post.
Former Dundee United keeper Steve Banks insists Micky Mellon would be a “massive hit” if the Tangerines appoint him as Robbie Neilson’s successor.
Mellon is in the running to become the new United gaffer, with Tranmere Rovers giving the Championship title winners permission to speak to him about the role.
Mellon 48, is a former team-mate of Banks at Blackpool and the pair also joined forces at Prenton Park where the ex-United No1 was the goalkeeping coach on Merseyside.
Banks believes the Scot – one of a number of candidates spoken to by sporting director Tony Asghar – would be the perfect fit for his old club as they prepare for a return to the Premiership.
Banks, who’s back at Blackpool as goalie coach, said: “Micky and I go back a long way. We still speak every couple of weeks.
“If he gets the United job, I have no doubts he would be a massive hit. His impact would be there for all to see.
“As a player at Blackpool, he was one who gave his all. He was tenacious and honest as the day is long.
“When I worked with him at Tranmere for those six months, he was a real players’ manager. He praised them when things were going well but, at the same time, if he felt they could do better he wasn’t slow in telling them.
“Personally, I think he’d be an ideal appointment. They wouldn’t regret taking him back to Scotland.”
Banks reckons Mellon, born in Paisley, would jump at the opportunity to move back north of the border.
He added: “You can still hear his Scottish accent on the training ground – he certainly gets his message across!
“He has a good knowledge of the Scottish game and is very meticulous.
“Micky is someone who has a big effect on people he works with. I’ll keep in touch with him for the rest of my life.”
United’s managerial hunt is likely to stretch into next week after Asghar confirmed they are in no rush to make a decision.
The Tangerines chief suggested that there could be as many as 20 candidates interviewed for the vacancy by the time of an appointment.
That will make it over a fortnight since Robbie Neilson left for Hearts.
Others in the frame are Malky Mackay, Billy McKinlay, Jon Daly and Austin MacPhee, while Asghar claimed just days ago that former St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright had not been ruled out.
Asghar said: “We need to know who will fit this club.
“We have clear criteria about what we are looking for.
“Since (owner) Mark Ogren came in 18 months ago we have built a momentum and we want to keep that going.
“I have been a bit surprised at the sheer diversity of people who have applied.
“I have seen other clubs act very quickly in this situation.
“But what we wanted to do was have an open view, speak to people and reach the best decision for Dundee United.”
Asghar, who asked Tranmere on Thursday for permission to speak to Mellon, then hinted that the club will not shy away from appointing someone who does not have Scottish top-flight experience.
“Sometimes you need experience but sometimes you need someone who is hungry, enthusiastic, ambitious, and wants to develop the team,” he added.
“So I don’t think you can just say: ‘We must go with experience’.
“Top-level managers have gone into jobs before and not been successful. It will come down to whether the person we get fits into the environment that we have created here.”
Specifically asked about SFA performance director Mackay, Asghar replied: “We had a great chat with Malky.
“We find him a very impressive man. But Malky is one of a number we are looking at.”