Dundee United have set themselves a target of having the new man appointed BEFORE Saturday's clash with Aberdeen as the dust settles after Tony Asghar's resignation.
The 56-year-old quit just two days after Liam Fox became the second managerial casualty of a disastrous season at Tannadice. United chiefs say a revamped football department will now be put in place to coincide with the appointment of a new manager. And that could clear the way for the return of Craig Levein who remains a top target.
Furious supporters had Asghar firmly in their firing line as they stepped up demos before, during and after Saturday’s 4-0 humiliation against fellow relegation battlers Ross County which sees them cut adrift at the bottom by four points. He departed last night after four years in position and just a week after getting a vote of confidence from owner Mark Ogren at the club’s AGM.
Asghar has played no part in the current hunt for a new boss. A shortlist of names was last night put to owner Ogren, chief executive Luigi Capuano and the board of directors. Levein remains the frontrunner to replace axed Liam Fox although Record Sport understands any conversations between the club and the former Scotland boss have yet to be formalised.
A statement from Tannadice read: “Dundee United can announce Tony Asghar has stepped down from his role as sporting director. Following more than four years at the club, Tony has decided to leave his post to allow the new first team manager to be appointed within a revamped structure within the football department.
“The board and chief executive Luigi Capuano will now lead the process of hiring a new manager and hope to provide an update this week. The club will make no further comment at this time.”
Other names in the frame include Neil Lennon, current player-coach Charlie Mulgrew, sacked Dons boss Jim Goodwin and former boss Tam Courts. Levein spent three and a half successful years at Tannadice as manager from 2006-2009, pulling the Tangerines out the relegation mire in his first campaign before leading them to back-to-back fifth place finishes.
The 58-year-old hasn’t worked in management since being axed by Hearts late in 2019 though. He’s been working as a pundit as well as an advisor to Highland League leaders Brechin City.
But Levein is understood to be open to the prospect of returning to the Tannadice dugout should the conditions suit his needs. The situation at Tannadice was further complicated last night when it emerged a group of Tayside businessmen have sounded out Ogren over a buyout of the club.
The American owner is back in the States after a stormy two weeks in Scotland which saw Fox become the second management casualty of the season after a six-game losing run. Ogren has ploughed more than £13million into United after taking over in December 2018 and insists the club must become self-sufficient.
It’s understood the local consortium are keen to offer the 55-year-old an exit route should he so wish. But Ogren told supporters at last week’s AGM he remained committed and the club was “bang on” their long term strategy after exceeding expectations last season by qualifying for Europe.
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