Chairman defends recruitment policy

Chairman Stephen Thompson has defended Dundee United’s methods during their search for a new manager.

The Tangerines had approaches rejected by the clubs of both Tommy Wright [St Johnstone] and John Hughes [Inverness Caledonian Thistle] before eventually appointing former player Mixu Paatelainen.

They had also been linked with amongst others Scotland coach Stuart McCall, ex-West Bromwich Albion chief Alan Irvine and Ross County’s Jim McIntyre.

“Ideally, you want to speak to as many candidates as you can,” Thompson told the Dundee Courier. “Some of them will be in jobs and clubs are entitled to turn us down. We just took our time, though. I learned a lot from my father’s experience of appointing someone the next day.

“So I did my homework on Mixu. People say he failed with Finland but he is the second most successful coach they have had,” he continued. “There is a real passion for the game with him. He is very driven and he has learned a lot in his coaching. He was also in the top six in his three years with previous clubs in Scotland.”