Share

Could Dundee United Turn To Mixu Paatelainen

McCall told Sky Sports News headquarters: “Regarding Dundee United, a bigger club and fanbase wise, certainly a bigger budget [than Motherwell], I think the third biggest in Scotland, good history, been in a couple of Scottish Cup finals of late, should be challenging for a European spot, so that might be one of interest”.

Advertisement

McNamara’s father, Jackie Snr, has described United’s handling of the issue as “abysmal”, but Thompson insists he dealt with the issue face-to-face and believes he has done as much as could be expected to make a success of things at the club, now sitting second bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership following a run of seven fixtures without a win.

“I understand the club are looking for someone with a lot more managerial experience”.

Thompson stands accused of selling silverware to Celtic by sanctioning the departure of Gary Mackay Steven and Stuart Armstrong to the Parkhead club for around £2.5 million earlier this year, just weeks before they met in the League Cup final. I breathe the club every day, I’m in here every other day. “It always comes as a shock to you that they have lost their job”.

“We are also at a great facility at St Andrews, where we’ve got cooks, masseurs, backroom staff, overnight stays etc”.

The Australia worldwide says the entire squad have sympathy with McNamara.

He said: “I felt like my father for the very first time during that transfer window”.

“I did that and you can criticise us if you wish”.

“Yeah, I brought another two players in but it’s about quality”.

“It could easily have been done by another employee of the club”. “They bullied us at times”.

“But I’m sure their fans would love the way he wants to play”.

On the issue of his own future Thompson, who is part of a consortium preparing to buy Australian club Newcastle Jets, stressed he will be staying at Tannadice.

“We have a few debt but it is totally manageable, around a million quid, and we are in no rush to pay that back”.

“Four or five years ago, we were under ridiculous pressure from the bank to the point where the club could have gone under”, he said.

Advertisement

“I feel now we are in a good place as a club – not in the league obviously, but for going forward again and building for the future”.

Dave Bowman takes charge of United this weekend