United’ s boss thrived in face of ‘whirlwind’

Tam Courts has opened up about navigating the “whirlwind” after being appointed as Dundee United boss, having guided the club back into Europe.

Courts’ ascension to the dugout last summer was met with widespread scepticism due to his lack of experience as a senior manager.

Tannadice sporting director Tony Asghar also came under fire.

At that point Courts had a successful stint at the helm of Kelty Hearts in the South of Scotland League on his CV, while his work within the United youth academy was internally admired.

But now he has secured fourth spot in the Premiership in his maiden campaign, sealing a place in the Europa Conference League third qualifying round.

Reflecting upon a testing campaign, Courts said: “Tony (Asghar) is bold and brave in his decisionmaking, and he made a very bold and brave decision by appointing me as the head coach.

“For the first couple of months, that put him under a lot of scrutiny.

“I was under a lot of scrutiny too.

“What made it a whirlwind was that scrutiny, furore and the sensationalism that came with the appointment.

“Dundee United are a big club in Scotland but, over the last four or five years, it is a club that has been relegated to the Championship and had a few seasons of turmoil. So, it’s natural that there was a little bit of nervousness.

“From my perspective, I had been successful at Kelty Hearts and had spent two years in the academy at Dundee United. I knew the club and the pathway.

“I actually felt like I was starting from a really strong position.”

However, Courts readily admits that fourth place — United’s highest finish since 2013-14 — represents “overachievement”, given top-six football was the primary goal.

He told BBC 5 Live: “We have delivered a lot of our strategic objectives and a lot of our performance goals — but I will say that fourth place wasn’t one of those.

“So, you can argue that we have overachieved.”

Ask whether that, in turn, raises pressure levels and expectations for next season, Courts laughed,

adding: “I think it probably does, yes!

“What it does means is: over the close-season, we need to be really diligent in terms of how we strengthen the squad and achieving any competitive advantage we can.”

With the likes of Slavia Prague, Basel, Anderlecht and FC Twente among a plethora of potential opponents United could face on the Continent next term, anticipation is already building ahead of August.

Courts said: “The size and stature of this club is something I want to embrace. It is something to be leaned on for inspiration.

“So, you can just imagine the excitement that is building among the fans and players.

“I am particularly pleased for the supporters, who have been starved for success in recent years.”

Meanwhile United’s season ticket sales are set to smash through the 5,000-mark as the

Tangerines gear up for a return to Europe.

The Tangerines will enter the Europa Conference League at the third qualifying round next term, while sporting director Tony Asghar is determined to oversee another campaign at the top end of the table.

And fans have been quick to snap up their seats.

“Our season tickets are going fantastically well and our support is stronger than ever,” Asghar told

Dundee United’s official website.

“All of those things are real positives and we want to build on that.

“In the long-term we want to build a team that, year-in, year-out people will know will be in the top six.

“It’s crucial we have a team where when people buy their season ticket they have a team that will be fighting for something, not sitting on the bottom.

“That’s what we are building.”

SCRUTINY: Tam Courts has ‘overachieved’ in his maiden season despite early doubts when he got the United job.