| Fenlon concluded talks with United last night and agreed to become their new manager, but the winter freeze forced him to delay his return to Dublin until this morning.
He was due back home at lunchtime and was heading straight for talks with his current employers in a bid to get them to release him from a contract that still has three years left to run.
On paper, that means the Irish champions should be due six-figure compensation for losing him, but severe financial problems there mean Fenlon believes that is no longer the case.
Sources close to him have revealed he waived his right to unpaid bonuses dating back over the past two seasons, but only on the understanding that if the chance came to move to a bigger job he would be allowed to do so for free.
Bohemians have now changed their tune and he wants a face-to-face meeting to get the matter sorted.
From United’s point of view, that is an issue for their prospective employee and his current employers to settle, but they still hope to have his name on a contract before Saturday’s Scottish Cup visit to Partick Thistle.
They would even be prepared to wait until the beginning of next week for things to be resolved, but, should it drag on any further, other candidates will again be considered.
Until news arrives from Ireland tonight, there was little more to be said by United today, though chairman Stephen Thompson did take a dim view of suggestions from Bohemians that the Tangerines had shown them a lack of respect.
“Dundee United have acted properly throughout our search for a new manager,” he said.
“We approached Bohemians for permission to speak to Pat Fenlon and only did so once they had faxed that permission.
“I would add when they gave permission for us to speak to him they did so without any pre-conditions.”
What is now clear is that, while Fenlon could be at Firhill for the cup-tie, caretaker boss Peter Houston will be picking the team this weekend.
Today, he suffered a fitness blow when striker Danny Cadamarteri tore a calf muscle in training that could rule the front man out for anything up to a month.
While he remains some way off a competitive return, United have had the boost of seeing striker Francisco Sandaza kicking a ball again for the first time since groin surgery in the autumn.
“We had a game in training and Fran was able to get the last 15 minutes.
“That was good and now it is a matter of seeing what his reaction has been,” added Peter. |
