Severe cuts coming at ‘toxic’ Dundee United as drop looms
DUNDEE UNITED boss Mixu Paatelainen has described the atmosphere around the club as “toxic” and warned there would be severe cuts to the playing budget whether or not the Tannadice side are relegated.
Their fate could be settled in the coming days should second-bottom Kilmarnock beat Hamilton today and United then failed to defeat rivals Dundee at Dens Park on Monday.
United has been a club in turmoil for some time now, with fans protesting outside Tannadice following last weekend’s defeat to Hamilton.
Chairman Stephen Thompson revealed this week that he would listen to offers for his shareholding, while his sister Justine Mitchell resigned from the board after the Scottish Cup semifinal loss to Hibernian.
In a passionate address, Paatelainen compared recent events at United to relegated Premier League club Aston Villa and warned there would be uncertain times ahead even if United could somehow find a way to close the eight-point gap to Kilmarnock over their remaining four league games.
“We still have a chance to save our season but regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season we must make big changes,” he said. “The budget will be cut severely regardless of what league we are in.
“It’s one thing after another at the moment but when a club is in the position we are in then that’s always the case. There’s always negativity.
“Look at [caretaker manager] Eric Black’s comments about Aston Villa. There’s a lot of toxic in the air. And it’s the same with us because of where we are. It’s natural, but not nice. It hurts.
“Do you go into a corner and cry? Or do you roll your sleeves up and fight to make things better? That’s my spirit. The football has not been good enough. and we have to correct that.”