The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Watson full of praise for Neilson’s team despite United exit
Paul Watson insists it is no surprise to see Robbie Neilson attempting to put the old band back together at Hearts.
The defender was a titlewinner with Dundee United last season and, while head coach Neilson gained the plaudits, he reckons the energy of “infectious” first-team coach Lee McCulloch was pivotal.
Neilson has confirmed that he plans to hold talks with “Jig” with a view to a role on his staff at Tynecastle following his shock switch to the Jambos last month.
Watson, meanwhile, has signed a two-year deal with Dunfermline after the Tannadice outfit declined to offer him a new deal and, notwithstanding his grievances regarding how his departure was handled, has ample praise for the dugout team who claimed the Championship crown.
Watson said: “Jig (McCulloch) is really approachable and is a brilliant link between the players and the manager.
“He did that role really well at Dundee United, was excellent around the boys and just lifted everything around the club when it was needed.
“He’s an infectious personality and is full of energy.
“Jig’s a great character and did that traditional assistant manager role – being among the boys, having a laugh and a joke and keeping morale up. That’s a massive thing over the course of a long, tough season.
“But when we got on the grass and the sessions got going, he had that serious side – he’s been a manager so knows all about that side of it – and expected us to do our business properly.”
Hearts may also swoop for Neilson’s old No2, Gordon Forrest, after new United gaffer Micky Mellon confirmed that he has also departed the club.
And Watson continued: “All three of them set very high standards and the work on the training pitch was excellent.
“They are a team that really complements each other, so it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Robbie tries to get that unit together at Hearts.”
Watson, who made 52 appearances in two seasons under Neilson, accepts that the Jambos are now runaway favourites for the Championship title following their audacious raid on Tannadice.
However, the experienced defender will not temper his ambition with the Pars as he seeks to show Neilson he was wrong to release him in May.
Watson added: “I was a bit disappointed with how things ended at United.
“Different conversations with people told me different things, and things didn’t play out the way I had expected.
“I’m looking forward now and I’m really excited for the next chapter at Dunfermline.
“The bare minimum for us has to be the playoffs – top four – you never know where you can go from there.
“With Hearts in the league, they will be massive favourites due to the quality they have. But winning that league is easier said than done sometimes.”