Sturrock put himself on – and hit a hat-trick
Paul Sturrock laughs at the notion of having to reassure Dundee United’s players he won’t be joining them on the pitch any time soon.
Before hanging up his boots – literally nailing them into the bootroom wall on his 1989 retiral – the man universally known as ‘Luggy’, was a legend for the Tangerines.
With 571 appearances and 170 goals to his credit, he was a key constituent of the 1983 league-winning team, and remains to this day arguably the Tayside club’s most- popular player – ever.
When mention is made of United’s halcyon days of the 1980s, it is the image of the whippet-thin forward, running with socks at his ankles which springs to mind as much, if not more, than any other.
Times change, in some places at a more alarming rate than others, and it was the struggles of the present-day Tannadice side which prompted manager Csaba Laszlo to ask Sturrock to become a temporary member of their coaching staff.
It was an unexpected move and one which revealed just how desperately the Tangerines need to make the play-offs this season.
Sturrock, who had already been assisting the Hungarian in his capacity as United’s new chief scout in England, was happy to accept.
However, some of the management lessons he has picked up from his time in charge of, among others, United, St Johnstone, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday he will definitely be heeding.
“My last involvement was in charge of my local walking football team, the White Hart in Menheniot, in Cornwall,” said Sturrock.
“Even there you get annoyed when people don’t do what you want them to. I got so annoyed with them that I even brought myself on.
“I scored a hat- trick – but pulled a hamstring taking a shot! This is walking football we are talking about, remember!
“So that was a lesson learned. I won’t be doing that again in a hurry – no matter what the situation is!”
Jokes apart, Sturrock is ready to channel all his considerable know- how into helping United turn things around. “That is what this is all about,” he said. “I am 61 years old now and am lucky enough to have been involved in the game of football all my life.
“United have been a huge part of my life. I don’t think anyone needs to be told how close the club is to my heart.
“It is painful for all supporters, and I am one myself, to see us playing outwith the top division in Scotland and, of course, there are continuing financial consequences the longer that remains the case.
“So we need to try to put that right, as soon as we possibly can.
“I have had quite a few dealings with Csaba already, so I know how much he is focused on that task and how open he is to doing everything we can to make it happen.
“As I said to him right at the start, I just want to do anything I can to help.
“I do have quite a bit of experience of coaching in Scottish football, as well as down the road. I will be trying to make positive use of it where I can.
“I guess there will be folk who will think: ‘ That’s him just looking to work his ticket to get back in as Dundee United manager’.
“I can assure everybody, though, that is not the case at all.
“I have had my go at being a manager, just in the same way as I had my shot at being a player.
“They were enjoyable spells in my life. But time has moved on for me, the same way it does for everyone.
“This is a different thing, an effort to help a club I love.”
Sturrock has already made an impact in his capacity as chief scout for England, helping to tee-up the signing of Bilel Mohsni – once of Rangers and a player he had at Southend – and remains bullish a testing situation can be turned around.
“Hibs are the perfect example of what can be done,” he said.
“They were three years in the Championship, having to contend with Hearts and Rangers in the division while they were there, and look where they are now.
“They are in the top four in the table, playing an attacking brand of football under a great manager, Neil Lennon, and are selling record numbers of season tickets as a result.
“I am under no illusions it is has been an easy journey for them, but they have built themselves back up, on the pitch and off it.
“That is what Dundee United have to do. They are still one of Scottish football’s great names and great clubs, and will always be so.”
Their manager got the dreaded vote of confidence before Dunfermline came to town.
But Dundee United’s players looked drained of the stuff as they fell to fourth in the Championship.
On the day they welcomed club legend Paul Sturrock back into the Tannadice fold, the Tangerines were a shadow of their former selves.
They fell behind to a Nicky Clark goal as the Pars threatened to leapfrog them in the table.
They equalised only thanks to some comic defending by Dunfermline’s James Craigen.
There was effort aplenty from the Tangerines, but too little quality.
That’s becoming a familiar tale round Tannadice way.
But the bigger story of their campaign is most starkly told by the stats. On December 9 last year, United were top of the Championship after a 2-0 away win at Morton. Since then, they have picked up just 12 points.
Never mind the title, United are now in a scrap to stay in the play-off places.
And for Csaba Laszlo, the man whom “Luggy” has been brought back to Tannadice to assist, even the public backing chairman Mike Martin offered on Friday must provide precious little comfort.
Laszlo has never been afraid to shuffle his pack – and he did so for the Pars’ visit.
Among six changes to the side that lost to Queen of the South in midweek, former Rangers man Bilel Mohsni was handed his United debut, while Harry Lewis, Jamie Robson, Willo Flood, Matty Smith and Scott Fraser also came in.
Dunfermline were winless in 12 games against the Tangerines, but knew victory would put them above their hosts in the table.
It was United who started the stronger, however, and Jamie Robson should have put them ahead within a minute after bursting into the napping Pars box.
Instead, with time and space to pick his spot, he allowed Lee Robinson to make a diving save.
The Tangerines threatened again on 15 minutes when Sam Stanton turned in midfield and tried to feed Smith, but his through-ball had too much fizz. Then Dunfermline came alive. Declan McManus struck the post after Nicky Clark cushioned Ryan Williamson’s cross into his path on the edge of the box, then saw a looping volley fly just over the bar.
James Craigen’s effort from the edge of the box had home hearts in mouths on the half-hour, but whipped past the
upright with United keeper Harry Lewis beaten.
As the game grew scrappy and desperate, Celtic loan star Anthony Ralston saved United’s bacon by heading another Williamson cross off the line at the back stick with Pars attackers lurking.
But United rallied and only a flying Robinson save from Fraser’s top corner-bound free-kick kept the scores level at half-time.
However, seven minutes after the restart, United had their heads in their hands once again.
Williamson had looked dangerous down the right for the Pars since the start – and he was the provider as Clark swept his cross home from close range.
It was grim viewing for the United fans, but their spirits were lifted almost immediately when Craigen inexplicably blootered what should have been a straightforward clearance straight into Scott McDonald’s legs – and into the net to level the score.
The Pars almost nicked it at the death when Clark hooked Kallum Higginbotham’s cross back across goal.
With Harry Lewis stranded, the net was begging to bulge.
In the end, nobody in black and white could get there, leaving the Tangerines punters to breathe a sigh of relief, then to wish they weren’t in the position to need to.