Dundee Utd 1
St Mirren 1
League (Premier Division)

Manager's Programme Notes

Despite the fact that we managed to get back on the winning way again when Motherwell were our visitors last Saturday, the seven days since then have been a mixture of good and bad here at Tannadice. It is extremely satisfying to see us still sitting top of the Premier Division considering the Injuries and other problems to have troubled us over the season so far. However, such as the continuation of our ill-luck concerning John Holt tends towards the disappointing aspect, with the midfield man having suffered another setback in the reserve game at Fir Park last Saturday. And then we faced a transfer setback when failing to get Ayr United's Walker McCall early this week after already having agreed terms with the club — at the right price ! I felt confident at the time that with the right attitude, the former Aberdeen marksman could have provided us with exactly what has been lacking — finishing power.

However, things started to go wrong in the negotiations when the player himself indicated his intention of returning to the United States next summer where he apparently spent a successful time of it during last close-season. Well, as far as I am concerned, that was out of the question. Players here at Tannadice have been prevented by me in the past from such close-season adventures in the States, and to change that policy would just have opened the door for others apart from losing the respect of those already refused permission. As far as I view it, the position is that every single Dundee United player must — and does — give 100% to the club here, and I do not see several months of their rest period in America as aiding that cause. In every case I want our players to use each summer to get away from it all, especially the demands I place on them throughout each long season. Unfortunately, Walker McCall had his heart set on going — and that was that! Following that in and out display against Motherwell last weekend, we greet St Mirren here to Tannadice today. If we can manage to sustain our form of the opening half-hour of last week's game, then we should have no fears. One thing is certain, anyone viewing this afternoon's game will be in a fortunate position of seeing around half a dozen of the country's best players in action.