Levein: Dillon’s day in sun well deserved
CRAIG LEVEIN made Sean Dillon his first signing as Dundee United manager, little suspecting that some 10 years later he would be back at Tannadice preparing to bring a Hearts team to Tayside to mark the Irishman’s testimonial,
It wasn’t as if, as Levein joked yesterday, his contract was the kind of 10-year arrangement that Jim McLean used to tie his young players to.
The Hearts director of football, who will travel north with manager Ian Cathro and his players for a match featuring selected golden oldies such as Jon Daly, Noel Hunt and possibly even Rudi Skacel on the evening of Tuesday March 21 – said last night that he was happy to help out in any way he can, because Dillon too has that obliging type of personality.
Levein, who has form for identifying young managerial talent such as Robbie Neilson and Ian Cathro, reckons Dillon – who coaches the Under-17s at Tannadice along with team-mate Willo Flood – could be another name on the list.
“I signed Sean because he was an athlete, he was decent in possession, calm and could play a number of positions,” said Levein. “He played just about every game when I was manager. But I didn’t think he would be here for this time. It was Jim McLean who signed players for 10 years!
“But I have always liked Irish players. Jon Daly, Noel Hunt, Willo Flood and Sean have all done a great job. People in football know who has a good reputation. It’s not even spoken about. Sean is one of those. Ask anybody about him and they all say the same thing. He’s a genuine human being . I like players who have the mindset that they want to help others.
“I’ve said it hundreds of times but I was fortunate to play with Sandy Jardine, who was keen on helping me. Sean’s that type of person. He naturally wants to help people and I would think he has a future in coaching.”
The player himself says Ray McKinnon’s inactivity during the transfer window as United seek to regain their stride in the promotion race is nothing to worry about.
“If the transfer window had closed on Christmas Day when we were top of the league you would have looked at it differently. It has to be the right signings,” he said.