Courts tells of his own surprise at shock exit

Tam Courts departed Scotland anticipating a relaxing fortnight of sun, sea and sand in Turkey.

However, the subsequent deluge of calls, Zoom meetings and dispatches back to Dundee United were anything but tranquil.

“I was getting on to Whatsapp audio to make calls, logging into Zoom, having interviews and updating Dundee United,” smiled the former Tannadice head coach.

“It became a pretty stressful holiday!”

Speaking from his new base in Budapest, the Honved manager is discussing his shock United exit in detail for the first time.

Croatian side Rijeka were the first club to declare an interest in Courts’ services after he led the Tangerines to European qualification last season. Full and frank discussions with United sporting director Tony Asghar followed.

“I wanted to be as honest as possible with the club when the interest from Rijeka emerged,” said Courts.

“Because of my relationship with Tony (Asghar), I spoke to him right away. Tony prides himself on developing and selling players – but he also wants to develop and promote staff.

“So, when he said it could be good for my development to have that interview (with Rijeka), I wanted to see if I could command the respect of that size of club. I was just as surprised as anyone.

“As you start to go through that process, different conversations need to happen. Things just started to develop from there.”

Talks with Rijeka were protracted, circuitous and, ultimately, did not result in Courts heading to the banks of the Adriatic.

Instead, Budapest Honved’s sporting director Chris Docherty – an erstwhile Tannadice colleague of Courts – made his approach.

In the meantime, Courts had formally departed United “by mutual consent”.

“(Rijeka talks) probably dragged on for a wee bit too long,” continued Courts.

“That allowed Honved to step in. I know Chris Docherty from our time at Dundee United and the more I researched what they’re trying to do here, there are a lot of similarities with United. They have a very good academy and are a club that should be performing better in terms of their league position.”

He added: “It was never my intention to leave Dundee United. But when the Rijeka opportunity started to develop, and subsequently the Honved one, I got excited about the prospect of working outside Scotland.”

Courts proceeds to wax lyrical about life at Honved – a training ground “up there with the best in England”, complete with cryotherapy chambers, multiple pitches and dormitories; a brand new stadium; a swathe of youth internationalists; the mouth-watering away days to cities he never imagined visiting.

Nevertheless, leaving United – especially with the draw of European football next term – was tough.

“It was difficult to leave because, first and foremost, there is Europe to look forward to,” he continued.

“Next season, there was further opportunity to put my own stamp on things, with five or six new signings. It was a wrench to leave the club.

“I believe I have definitely left it in a better place. The pleasing thing from my perspective is, in the aftermath of it all, Dundee United have appointed a very good manager in Jack Ross, who I think will have success there. And my relationship with everyone at the club is still intact.”

Courts’ young family have already been to Hungary to visit and intend to return once Honved have completed their upcoming training camp in Slovenia. Allied with getting to know his entire staff, the players and the city, Courts is steadfast in his determination to “throw himself in” to this challenge. However, mastering the local lingo will be a step too far.

“I was actually told right from the outset not to bother learning Hungarian,” he laughed.

From Kelty to Tannadice to Budapest, the Fifer hopes his intriguing career path is one that will lead to the upper echelons of the game. “I am an ambitious guy – but I recognise I need to do a good job here,” he added.

NEW CLUB: Tam Courts is relishing the challenge at Honved but said leaving United was tough.