Former Dundee United striker Pavol Safranko has hailed the club’s signing of his replacement Lawrence Shankland as a “fantastic move.”
The Slovakian international scored 15 times for the Tangerines last season to finish joint top scorer along with Nicky Clark but left the club after they failed to get promotion.
The decisive day was in Paisley in the Premiership play-off final second leg on May 26 when they suffered a painful penalty shootout loss to St Mirren, failing to convert any of their spotkicks – including one from Safranko.
He is now on the books of Romanian club Sepsi, who are managed by ex-United boss Casaba Lazslo.
Even from that distance, Safranko has been hugely impressed by Shankland’s goals tally this season, with the free-scoring frontman having already surpassed the 15-goal tally with his 17 in all competitions.
He said: “The guys who have bought the club know what they are doing and bringing in Lawrence Shankland was a fantastic move.
“I have no doubt about this team and I hope they go up this year.
“We had the perfect team last year, in my eyes. I think now they have kept that team and added a special player to it.”
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Despite his promotion misery, one-time fans’ favourite Safranko loved his time in Scotland so much that he would consider a return.
He said: “I feel like I have unfinished business with United.
“I promised something (promotion) and we did not manage it.
“If we had won that game it would have been the perfect end to the season and maybe I would still be at the club.
“I really enjoyed my time at Dundee United and we were so close to going up.
“The penalty kicks did not go our way and it was a disappointing end to the season and to my time there.”
He added: “You never know if I will be back at Tannadice – life is crazy.
“Whether it is with Dundee United or another team maybe it will happen but United will always be in my heart after my time there – that will not change.”
