Dundee United are expected to confirm the departure of their manager Mixu Paatelainen in the next 48 hours. He was called to Tannadice at lunchtime yesterday and left within half-an-hour after discussions with the chairman Stephen Thompson and general manager David Southern.
United’s derby defeat by Dundee on Monday confirmed their relegation from the Ladbrokes SPFL Premiership with three games remaining, and a caretaker manager will take the team away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Friday night. Thompson issued a lengthy statement to supporters yesterday which made no mention of Paatelainen but accepted his own full responsibility for the club’s tailspin and promised radical changes.
Ray McKinnon, the Raith Rovers manager, was last night installed as the favourite to succeed Paatelainen, with Tommy Wright, Ian Cathro, John Hughes and Stuart McCall also quoted by bookmakers. Paatelainen has been in charge for just 30 games since his appointment in October, losing 17 of them, failing to prevent the club’s first relegation since 1995 and going out of the Scottish Cup semi-final on penalties to Hibernian.
“Dundee United have let you, the supporters, down this season,” said Thompson in a statement on the club’s website. “I apologise unreservedly to all of you for our relegation from the Ladbrokes Premiership. As the chairman, the buck stops with me and I accept full responsibility for what has happened. The big decisions were mine and I got some of them wrong. I have backed managers with the third biggest budget in the league but the results have not been acceptable. In the near future many radical changes will be made to try to ensure our quick return to the top league.
“Further changes will see increased fan representation as well as boardroom changes to revitalise and re-energise the club. There will also be much better, more regular, more open and transparent communication with you, the fans, who are the lifeblood of Dundee United. I am currently seeking fresh investment in the club which may in time lead to me standing aside, and I aim to strengthen our current financial position to launch a bid for an immediate return to the top flight.
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“I understand calls for change and am open to realistic well-funded proposals that can bring in major investment. However, with the serious financial challenges we face in the Championship, I will not put the club’s existence in peril by simply handing over the keys unless any proposed investor is well financed and can offer a sustainable alternative. The board has worked over a period of time to review and restructure the club.
“Financially, there will be a substantial drop in income due to relegation that will mean cost reductions across the club. These include both on and off-field operations that will be implemented after consultation with employees. I am determined to return this club to the top of Scottish football as soon as possible and once again offer every United supporter my unreserved apologies for what has happened on my watch. I ask you now for your continued support: already over 1,100 have renewed your season ticket during our loyalty period and I thank you for this excellent take-up. It has never been more sorely needed as the job of rebuilding this great club for the future begins in earnest.”
Terry Butcher believes that Paatelainen was doomed because chairmen and directors usually make a sacrifice to appease supporters when their club is relegated. Butcher was himself sacked by Hibernian, having been in charge when they dropped down to the Championship in 2014 and he defended the Finn, claiming he had been best equipped to orchestrate recovery and promotion next year.
“When a club is relegated, I think the board like to be seen to be doing something and someone has to pay the price, which is invariably the manager,” said Butcher, 57, who has been out of management since he was dismissed by Newport County in October.
“It takes a very brave board to keep a manager on that has taken them down ... to look beyond relegation and say ‘how can we come back from this?’
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“There’s no-one better [equipped for the job], although Mixu’s only been there since October. He knows the squad, he knows the players, he’s had to work with them for some time. He knows them better than any new man coming in. He’s in the right position to say ‘this is what we’re going to do’.”