Former Dundee United manager Ian McCall believes that chairman Stephen Thompson must take the blame for the Tannadice club’s plight, claiming that he was “mad” to sack Jackie McNamara back in September.
At that stage United were second from bottom, three points behind Kilmarnock in 10th position. Now they’re stuck at the bottom, eight points adrift of Killie in the play-off position.
“Ultimately, you look back at the decision to get rid of Jackie. Which I just think was mad,” he said.
“They were just one point behind and there was all this stuff about his contract [which saw McNamara receive a cut of transfer fees] which is actually not unusual, that kind of clause.
“Nobody can tell me that Jackie McNamara thought: ‘I’ll sell all these players so I can make a few bob.’
“Anyone who knows him would tell you that’s nonsense. It’s not as if he needs the bloody money.
“That clause was put in there so the club could pay him less in salary. He was given a remit to sell players on and he did it. Look at the money the club got for their players, which was terrific.
“Obviously, that had a great impact on where they are now. They were top quality players. A couple [Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven] maybe haven’t done as well at Celtic but their leaving decimated the United team.
“Suddenly United were left with a lot of inexperienced lads, which they’re still suffering from now.
“But eight points behind with a game in hand at this stage? They’re still in it, absolutely.”
Thompson publicly slated current boss Mixu Paatelainen and his squad last month, claiming that results and displays were unacceptable because they were paying out more in wages than anyone outwith Celtic and Aberdeen. McCall finds that hard to believe, however.
“It surprised me when it came out that they had the third-biggest wage bill in Scotland,” he said. “In fact, I have got to say I would doubt that.
“I would doubt it is the third biggest in the Premiership. Are they saying they have got a bigger budget than Hearts?”
McCall reckons that United’s revival can be put down to the return of hard-tackling midfielder Paul Paton.
They won just five out of 30 games during his nine-month absence with a knee injury but they’ve won five out of eight since he came back and he’s scored vital goals against Hearts and Ross County.
“United looked dead and buried not so long ago but getting Paton back, and him scoring a couple of goals after being out for a good spell, has made the difference,” he said.
“Paul is a strong character and his style of play is such that he gets about the pitch well. He does what we term the dirty work.
“I think the solid base of the really good team that Jackie had was Paul and John Rankin sitting behind four pretty fluid ball players.
“He is a big plus for them and exactly the type of player you need to get out of a situation like that.
“I know him very well, having taken him from Queen’s Park to Thistle. He certainly has the right mentality for that type of battle.
“The worry was that United had so many young ball players. In that position, that’s maybe not what you need.”
McCall was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.