FLOOD WARNING
United skipper eager to end gruelling campaign with play-off redemption
WILLO FLOOD admits it has hurt to look up at the improved SPFL Premiership from the grind of another troubled season in the Championship. The Dundee United captain admits to jealousy when he sees the way Hibs have used promotion as a springboard to mounting a European challenge and believes there is similar potential at Tannadice — if only the club can get itself out of the second tier.
United were simply not good enough to challenge St Mirren for automatic promotion and a poorer league record than Livingston means they face the slog of six play-off matches if they are to make it back to the top flight at the second time of asking.
A season mired by the sacking of Ray McKinnon and some truly horrendous results under his replacement Csaba Laszlo has at least ended in a shot at promotion, however long it might seem at this stage.
‘For me, Dundee United are one of the big boys of Scottish football,’ says Flood. ‘When I first came to the club, it was Celtic and Rangers fighting for the title and we were up there mixing it with Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen, trying to win things and get into Europe.
‘It’s been hard to watch as the Premiership has definitely got stronger and the profile of the league has grown. Brendan Rodgers coming into Celtic has been huge and everyone else has raised their game.
‘But we are where we are because that’s what we deserve. We haven’t done the business over the past couple of years and it’s up to us to change that.’
The odds are stacked against the Tannadice club as they launch their assault on the play-offs against Dunfermline this week.
David Hopkin’s all-action Livingston lie in wait for the victors, with the top-flight team able to approach the two-legged final in a fresher state, much as Hamilton Accies did last season.
Flood admits to a burning sense of injustice about last year’s final when United were dealt a rough hand by officialdom.
He recalls: ‘We should have had a penalty at Tannadice and Hamilton should have had a man sent off. We didn’t get it and instead Simon Murray gets a red card.
‘Had we been a goal up going into the second leg it would have made all the difference. Sometimes one decision can change everything.’
United’s feelings were vindicated by the fact Murray’s red was rescinded in time for the second leg but Hamilton capitalised on home advantage to secure a 1-0 victory thanks to Greg Docherty’s winning goal.
Accies could yet be involved again this term but Flood feels United are better equipped to handle the scheduling — and the opposition — than 12 months ago.
‘It’s safe to say that the people who have organised these fixtures have never played football,’ remarks the ever candid Dubliner. ‘I think the schedule at the start of the season is bad enough, but this is where we are and we need to buckle down.’
Although Hibs managed to withstand a third season in the second tier following relegation in 2014, United cannot rely upon the same depth of fanbase. Fail to go up and there are likely to be cuts to the playing budget.
Now 33, Flood (right) would like to give another year to the club he first joined on loan from Cardiff in the summer of 2007.
‘Whether the club gets up or not, I think they need to make drastic changes on the playing side of things,’ states Flood.
‘My contract is up in the summer, same as last year. I’m enjoying it and I’m back living in the area and coaching the 17s.
‘I don’t expect the club to come and offer me a three-year deal. They need to look after the players who have value to the club first.’