PROFESSIONALISM AND CALM DIGNITY

As a manager who is inclined to shoot from the hip, it is fair to say that, during his time at Dundee United, Ian McCall has made fewer friends than some of the more diplomatic members of his profession are inclined to.

At after-match Press conferences, in particular, the Tangerines gaffer has demonstrated a willingness to say things as he sees them and not worry about the consequences until later.

With the benefit of hindsight, on at least some of those occasions, biting his tongue and suffering in silence might have led to a higher rating in the popularity stakes.

That said, though, those of us on this side of the business are never going to complain about a manager who always has an opinion and is not afraid to express it.

As a result of his approach, however, there have been occasions where it has been reasonable to suspect that, when some pundits have criticised his team, their motive has at least in part been driven by a desire to settle old scores.

It would, perhaps, be going too far to say he has made enemies during his time at Tannadice, but, equally, it is no exaggeration to point out that there are some who would take pleasure in seeing him fail there.

However, despite the many detractors he’s picked up over the last couple of years, he can have won nothing but admirers for the dignified way in which he has handled the latest speculation concerning his position at United.

Reading in newspapers — this one included — hearing on the radio, and seeing on television, that his chairman no longer felt he was the man for the job, cannot have been easy.

Neither could heading to his home town last Saturday for a cup clash with Queen of the South when everyone knew the axe was hovering above his head.

In the harsh world of football, it is also easy to forget that, while such speculation will always be part of the game — and you will get no apologies from this quarter for being involved in it — and managers, chairman and players soon learn to live with it, those involved are human beings with feelings and families.

For most of us, when we close the paper or switch channels on the box, such situations quickly slip from the mind.

For those in McCall’s situation, it does not go away so easily, and affects not only them but those close to them.

Despite all that, this man who remains a young manager despite learning his trade through the school of hard knocks that is the lower divisions, has handled what must rank as his most difficult days with professionalism and calm dignity.

He won nothing but respect from his players for the way in which he shouldered the blame for last midweek’s humiliation against Rangers that took him to the brink of the sack.

He prepared them properly for what was a potential banana skin at Palmertson — though it should be said that this QOS side was no more than a pale shadow of the one he supported as a boy.

Of course, as well as he has handled himself over the last week or so, ultimately, only one thing will determine whether or not he keeps his job — results.

Without question, they have not been good enough this season and, starting with tomorrow’s crunch game at Livingston, they must improve.

United are hovering dangerously close to the relegation place and dropping down a league would have potentially disastrous seven-figure consequences.

That cannot be allowed to happen and, after the events of the last eight days, if Ian McCall is the man who ensures it doesn’t, a considerable number will be happy for him.

Predictions

Dundee v. Motherwell — HOME.

Dunfermline v. Aberdeen — DRAW.

Hearts v. Kilmarnock — HOME.

Livingston v. Dundee United — DRAW.

Rangers v. Hibs — HOME.

Inverness CT v. Celtic — AWAY.