DUNDEE UNITED manager Peter Houston’s future will be decided today, one way or the other.
A media conference has been called for 1.30pm at Tannadice and both Houston and chairman Stephen Thompson will be in attendance.
By then the picture should be clearer but Courier Sport understands that both men will meet again this morning with the outcome of those talks still in the balance.
There does remain a real possibility that there will be a parting of the ways.
While discussions between Houston, his agent John Colquhoun and the club have always been amicable, the Tannadice board are expecting an answer from their manager today regarding his intentions.
Houston, whose contract expires in the summer, has been offered new terms that are less lucrative than those he currently enjoys, as part of an overall strategy of reducing costs to reflect the tough financial climate.
The directors, though, believe the salary package is both good and fair.
Meanwhile, Houston’s link to the vacant Blackpool manager’s job took another twist yesterday.
The United boss emerged as the surprise front-runner to take over from Michael Appleton at Bloomfield Road on Monday when it was revealed that the Tangerines had given Blackpool permission to speak to Houston.
That followed a call between United chairman Thompson and his counterpart down south, Karl Oyston.
However, a high-ranking Blackpool official has now claimed that the initial contact was made by an agent, who put his name forward for the vacant post.
Blackpool’s club secretary Matt Williams revealed to local radio: “We’ve not spoken to him (Houston).
“Karl Oyston rang their chairman on Sunday afternoon and their chairman said ‘if you want to speak to him, you can’.
“Then, it’s all over the media that he’s the bookies’ favourite and people are thinking he’s coming to Blackpool.
“The Dundee United chairman is someone Karl has spoken to on a number of occasions about various players and they had a conversation about the manager, who was put to us by an agent, I hasten to add.”