The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Title titans truly came out fighting
The symbolism was striking. Dundee United’s first press call of the 2023-24 season took place on July 10. Relatively late, but the club were keen to keep a low profile. Focus on hard graft rather than hopeful platitudes.
Too many actionless words had been spoken in the prior campaign.
Ross Docherty was on media duty. The club’s first summer signing and the man who would ultimately go on to be named club captain – sporting a black eye.
The shiner was sustained in a behind-closed-doors friendly against East Fife, with Docherty taking a stray boot square in the face.
So, there he was: A walking metaphor for the new United. Combative; aggressive; willing to take a rap in the pus in a meaningless bounce match. Just what was needed after too many meek surrenders during the Terrors’ descent to relegation.
Jim Goodwin was determined to build a gutsy, characterful United side capable of handling the second tier.
Some 298 days later, a beaming Docherty was handed the Championship trophy – the very same one Jim Mclean held aloft after winning the Premier Division in 1983 – by owner Mark Ogren.
As he hoisted it into the night air, the crowd roared, music blared and fireworks illuminated the scene. Job done. If one were to simply scan the numbers – spotlighted by Courier Sport on Sunday – then they might conclude that Goodwin’s charges enjoyed a rather serene march to the title.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
THE EXODUS
“Come and see me and we’ll rip up the contract and send them on their way,” said Goodwin. “I’ll not be difficult to deal with.”
The words were left to hang in the air – the starting gun for an inevitable exodus.
Around an hour had passed since Steven Mclean’s full-time whistle at Fir Park confirmed United’s relegation on May 28 2023 (in a peculiar quirk, Mr Mclean was also the referee last Friday night).
However, it was clear Goodwin was already planning for the subsequent season. A revolution in personnel and mindset was required. Offered a new two-year deal in the subsequent weeks, the Irishman would need that.
Ian Harkes, Ryan Edwards, Liam Smith, Peter Pawlett, Arnaud Djoum and Steven Fletcher left in short order. You can watch the latter strutting his stuff on Disney+ after he was tempted to Wrexham by a call from Ryan Reynolds.
Dylan Levitt and Aziz Behich – both at a World Cup six months prior – had no desire to play in the Championship, leaving United in an unenviable bargaining position.
A fee was paid by Hibs for Levitt, while Behich joined Melbourne City for an undisclosed sum; a deal that would earn the Tangerines a further £500,000 when he moved to Al-nassr courtesy of an inspired sell-on clause.
Finnish duo Immi Niskanen and Carljohan Eriksson headed for Exeter City and Nordsjaelland respectively.
Charlie Mulgrew, acutely aware that he was being asked to annul what was likely his last-ever playing contract and, consequently, a tough negotiator, did not leave until late August.
The only real failure was Mark Birighitti remaining on the books, aside from a couple of emergency loans at Kilmarnock.
Courier Sport understands United succeeded in shaving around £2.6 million off the preposterous £6.9m wage bill of 2022-23.
Indeed, while nobody at Tannadice desired relegation, there is now an appreciation it did allow the club to rid itself of lavish contracts with more ease than the alternative.
A reset was possible.
THE CHARACTER PROFILE
Without departed sporting director Tony Asghar and former head of recruitment Sean Mcgee, it was largely down to Goodwin and United chief executive Luigi Capuano to identify targets and build a squad.
They deserve immense credit for achieving that while overseeing necessary cost cutting.
Docherty; Liam Grimshaw; Kevin Holt; Louis Moult; Declan Gallagher – been there, done it and ready for the scrap ahead. Dressing room generals.
Goodwin made character profile a top priority throughout the recruitment process. “Too nice”, was his assessment of the relegated squad. He wanted leaders and fighters; players who despised losing.
Jack Walton would prove an inspired capture on loan from Luton Town, with the goalkeeper opting for United over several options in England’s League One.
Ollie Denham was a misfire, but one that was remedied with the signing of Sam Mcclelland on loan from St Johnstone in the winter.
While a slightly hackneyed sentiment, Tony Watt was like a new signing. His United career