Mixu Paatelainen insists the departure of Ryan McGowan from Dundee United is not a sign that the club have thrown in the towel and are already gearing up for life outwith the Premiership.
The Australian defender has been a virtual ever-present for the Tangerines this season but he has now returned to China after being signed by Henan Jianye for a fee believed to be around £300,000.
United boss Paatelainen insists he was under no pressure from above to agree to let the 26-year-old go with a replacement already secured in the shape of West Ham loan signing Kyle Knoyle, who will link up with his new team-mates on Monday.
And as the club prepare for today’s crunch clash with Kilmarnock, Paatelainen revealed that even before McGowan was sold, he had been assured by chairman Stephen Thompson that there was money available if he wanted to bring in further reinforcements.
The manager said: “It is absolutely not the case that selling Ryan means we’re preparing for the Championship.
“Ryan was a regular starter with us but that happens in football. I have no problem at all with Ryan leaving. Yes, he’s been a regular player for us in the team and an important figure but we’re fine now that he’s gone.
“There were factors in the deal such as finance and how the team is and what kind of players will play instead of Ryan. I was happy. The chairman never told me this deal must happen.
“He told me there was a possibility and asked me how we would be if he went. I said we’d be fine, no problem at all. It was a decision we took together. Players come and go in football.
“If everything is locked in then it happens. I don’t think we’re any weaker and we’ve made additions to the squad with Kyle Knoyle coming in and there probably will be more.
“Kyle will cover one or two positions. He’s a very bright prospect. He doesn’t have too much experience but he is a good player. There are other players we’d like to bring in to boost our defence.
“The chairman has always said there is money even if Ryan didn’t go so nothing has changed.”
As well as McGowan, Aidan Connolly also left United this week with the winger being deemed surplus to requirements while Chris Erskine has signed a pre-contract with his former club Partick Thistle.
It was reported that midfielder Charlie Telfer could be the next one heading for the exit but Paatelainen insists that isn’t the case.
He said: “Charlie hasn’t been told he can go on loan. Like every player we’d consider that. Charlie has been playing. He hasn’t played for a few matches now and of course he’s frustrated and not happy at the situation.
“If I feel there is an opportunity for any of our players to go on loan then we should but at the moment Charlie hasn’t been told he can go on loan.
“Partick Thistle haven’t contacted me about getting Chris this month. I expect him to be here until the end of the season and the same goes for Ryan Dow.”
With United 14 points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership table, a defeat today against second bottom Kilmarnock would make a “great escape” all but impossible.
However, the manager insists his players simply have to concentrate on securing three points.
He added: “This is a big game but I believe we could lose and still stay up, although it would be very difficult. It’s not only Kilmarnock who are on 24 points there are other clubs as well.
“We shouldn’t look into things like that. We should look into how we play and how we win against Kilmarnock. There’s no point in looking at the bigger picture. We can only blame ourselves if things go badly.”
Paatelainen admitted he has noticed a real bite in training from his players following a team meeting earlier this week.
However, while welcoming the change in intensity levels, he would not be drawn on whether he would be altering his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation.
Paatelainen said: “I’m always thinking about changing personnel and shape but I won’t give anything away.
“That’s always the procedure before the games and nothing changes in that respect.
“There’s been a change in the way the players have trained this week. There has been more talking and demands in the sessions.
“We want players to be aggressive, communicate and demand from each other. I don’t know if it has come from a realisation of the consequences if everything goes poorly.
“The players have had a chat with themselves and realise they need to do more.
“It’s been exactly what we want in training and I wish we’d seen it earlier but it’s been more than welcome. The players’ attitude has not been bad but there is extra bite and dig.
“It’s been more physical and there have been times when we’ve had to tell them to take it easy. I just hope that attitude doesn’t stay on the training ground and it goes into the match.”