Dundee United midfielder Blair Spittal wants there to be a “fresh start” for the club under new manager Ray McKinnon.
After a terrible time for the Tangerines there was at last some positive news when McKinnon’s appointment was confirmed yesterday.
Spittal (20), speaking at the team’s new kit launch, welcomed McKinnon’s arrival and and suggested it was now time to look forward rather than back after a season that saw United get relegated from the Premiership.
He said: “When a new manager comes in it’s a fresh start for everyone.
“The players all have a chance now to impress the new manager and that’s what we hope to do.
“We just have to put the season that we have just had to the back of our minds as quickly as possible.
“It has been a horrible one but this is a fresh start and now we can look forward to coming back for pre-season.
“It has been hard for everyone involved but it’s time to move on and look for better things in the future.
“We all know how bad it’s been but we can’t keep going on about it.
“There has to be a time when we move on and it can be now, when we have a new manager coming in.”
Spittal has seen how well McKinnon’s Raith Rovers team did this season in the Championship, getting into the promotion play-offs only to lose out to Hibs.
“He is a good manager and you have certainly seen that,” added the ex-Queen’s Park player.
“You saw the job he did at Brechin and, obviously, he has carried that on at Raith.
“They have been excellent all season and have good players.
“So he will be looking to come in and try to get us up to the Premiership as quickly as he can.
“The chairman (Stephen Thompson) obviously knows what he is capable of and got the deal done as quickly as he possibly could.
“We players now have to make sure we are in his thoughts for the new season.”
Spittal was one of the famous five on United’s “keep” list and he is desperate to show McKinnon what he can offer.
“It’s good to know I will be here for next season,” he said.
“I will be trying to recharge the batteries over the summer.
“Hopefully, things will all be settled and we will looking forward to starting again.”
