Dundee United supporters have two reasons to celebrate, with the club heading into Europe and the imminent return to Tannadice of fans’ favourite Willo Flood.
Celtic’s Scottish Cup final victory over Motherwell on Saturday means United have secured back-to-back Euro qualifications for the first time in 17 years.
It was in 1994-95 that they followed up the previous year’s UEFA Cup campaign with entry into the European Cup Winners’ Cup by virtue of their win over Rangers at Hampden.
This time the double has been achieved courtesy of their fourth-place finish in the SPL meaning manager Peter Houston and his players can look forward to the second qualifying round of the Europa Cup, for which United will be seeded.
The draw will be made on June 20, with the first leg to be played on July 14 and the return a week later.
Joining them for their European adventure will be Irish midfielder Flood, who is poised to team up again with United after being released by Middlesbrough.TalksTalks between the player and club are at an advanced stage and he is expected to be unveiled early this week.
It is understood he will be putting pen to paper on a two-year deal after opting for his former club ahead of Hearts and Aberdeen, as well as a host of English teams.
Flood enjoyed a successful season and a half with a break in between with the Tangerines while on loan from Cardiff City before being picked up by Celtic in January 2009, then going on to Boro a year later.
While declining to be drawn on the Flood deal, chairman Stephen Thompson was delighted to discuss the club’s journey back into Europe.
“It is a great achievement for the management team and the players to qualify in successive seasons,” said Thompson. “That has not happened for a long, long time.
“I know the supporters enjoyed our trip to Athens last season and they will be relishing the prospect of European football once again.
“United fans of a certain vintage had Europe to look forward to on a regular basis, and it is great to now be giving that opportunity to the younger generation.
“What is also nice is that there has been a significant reward for finishing fourth in the SPL, given the effort the club put into getting there.”
United were a yard away from ousting AEK Athens on away goals last season when Danny Swanson’s shot sailed just wide in the closing stages of the second leg in Greece.
Defender Paul Dixon believes they will be better prepared for continental competition this time around.Fantastic”It is great to get back into Europe again because the experience last season was fantastic,” said Dixon.
“We were only a kick of the ball away from going through against AEK Athens and the lads have learned a lot from that.
“It is a great learning experience playing against some top teams with great quality players so it gives us something to look forward to all summer.
“There is always anticipation waiting for the draw, and I can remember last season everyone getting huddled around the computer watching it after training.
“It is brilliant for the fans to get a trip away and a good reward for them for the support they have given us.”
United’s players will be back in action more than a week before the rest of the SPL, but Dixon cites the experience of Motherwell as proof that can work to your advantage.
“It will be a very early start, but I think if you ask anyone they would rather play competitive games than pre-season friendlies,” he said.
“We will be back in mid-June and working hard, so the manager will have us ready for the games.
“I think Motherwell have proved in recent years that starting real games early in the summer can actually help you when the league starts.
“They have been able to get off to a flyer because they have been a bit further on than the rest of the teams, and that is something we will want to do as well.”