Dundee United great Jim McInally believes former Tannadice teammate Billy McKinlay is the right man to replace Csaba Laszlo.
McInally, who is Peterhead manager, is desperate to see his old club return to the Premiership.
He has picked out one name in particular that he feels chairman Mike Martin and his board should be looking at.
McInally (54) would plump for McKinlay, who made 284 appearances for the Tangerines and has worked as a coach at Fulham, Real Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham, and been part of the backroom team at Northern Ireland.
McInally said: “Billy McKinlay had one failed spell as a manager in Norway but ultimately he’s worked at the highest level with Real Sociedad, Fulham under Roy Hodgson and last season at West Ham, and David Moyes thinks the world of him.
“What I know about Billy is that he’s a really good organiser of a team and from what I understand that’s what United need.
“It’s not just because he is an old teammate but he’s somebody that’s different and I would like to see the people making the decision look at the bigger picture.
“There are problems in boardrooms with chairman and directors who don’t look at the bigger picture enough.
McInally, who played 395 times for United and was a star of the team that reached the Uefa Cup final in 1987 and Scottish Cup in 94, is desperate to see his old club return to the Premiership.
The former Scotland midfielder added: “The damage that has been done already this season can be repaired by the new manager.
“I believe it’s vital for the club financially to get promoted.
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“Their current plight has been down to lack of leadership at the top.
“Through all of it the supporters haven’t deserted them and I hope they get rewarded.”
The Tangerines have placed interim manager Laurie Ellis in charge of the team for Saturday’s away game against Ayr United, while other names being mentioned as possible successors to Laszlo are Robbie Neilson, Jim McIntyre, Billy Dodds and Inverness Caley Thistle boss John Robertson.
