LET’S STUDY THE BIGGER PICTURE . . .

When, hopefully many years from now, he looks back on his career, Lee Mair is unlikely to have too many fond memories about what is set to unfold as he takes his derby bow for Dundee United tomorrow.

Once a favourite of theirs, the stylish defender will receive sustained stick from Dundee fans still furious about the way he turned his back on their team and joined the Tangerines after an unsuccessful six months in England.

Nothing written here will lessen the noise levels as his former fans berate him and, for his sake, it’s to be hoped Mair has thick skin.

Even so, it is worth looking at the bigger picture and, when you do, a few well-worn phrases spring to mind.

“It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it,” tops the list, for there is no question this likeable and intelligent young footballer could have escaped some of the stick that’s headed his way if he had handled his return Scotland differently.

In his dealings with Dens boss Jim Duffy, he did not cover himself in glory. The man who guided him as his manager, and then advised him as a friend during a difficult period at Stockport County, had a right to feel aggrieved after their dealings earlier this month.

For that reason, the reception he receives as he emerges from beneath the away support tomorrow will, to some degree, prompt a feeling of “you’ve made your bed . . .”

Away from the highly-charged emotion of the Jerry Kerr and Fair Play stands, though, the words like “lest we forget” should maybe creep into the minds of those of a Dark Blue persuasion.

For a start, when he did represent Dundee, Mair always gave 100%. Which Rangers player undeservedly picked up the Man-of-the-Match award, I can’t remember, but in the 2003 Scottish Cup Final few would argue he was the best player on the park.

And, like every other member of the squad, he suffered the agony of seeing work-mates lose their jobs through no fault of their own when the club went into financial meltdown in November that year.

Mair was kept on, but missed out on a lucrative new contract he had been close to signing — and which would have earned him considerably more than he ended up with by moving south, or back to Tannadice.

Despite that, along with his remaining team-mates, he gave his all to ensure administration was not followed up by relegation, and that at a time when no-one could have blamed him if he had taken things easy until the end of his contract.

As has already been written, such mitigating factors will lessen the severity of the fans’ attacks and, as long as the do not overstep the mark in terms of decency and behaviour, the supporters are entitled to voice their opinions.

What it does do, though, is give a bigger picture regarding Lee Mair — and one that shows he is far from the villain Dundee fans want to believe.

Even so, if I were in his shoes tomorrow, I’d have a lot of cotton wool in my ears.

Predictions — United v. Dundee — HOME; Hearts v. Dons — DRAW; ICT v. Pars — HOME; ’Well v. Hibs — AWAY; Rangers v. Livi — HOME; Killie v. Celtic — AWAY.