Mark Ogren says there will be "no immediate changes" at Dundee United as the club are set to stand by sporting director Tony Asghar and boss Liam Fox.
Fans protested outside Tannadice before Tuesday's AGM with a banner directed towards the sporting director reading 'Asghar Out.' Asghar and boss Fox have come under fire as United have been left at the bottom of the Premiership and a lack of recent investment in the squad.
Ogren expressed concern about the team’s position and was asked about the position of Asghar but insisted that the sporting director remains an important figure. He stated: “there will be no immediate changes.” United fans have been frustrated with the team’s lack of transfer activity in the January window while head coach Fox has also been a target for the Tannadice boo boys. He let several players go out on-loan to free up budget, including Tony Watt who made it clear he wanted to move to St Mirren. United failed to bring in a replacement striker and left the manager short in several key areas.
His only signing was defender Loick Ayina on loan from Huddersfield Town on deadline day. Ogren made it clear he is no longer prepared to bankroll spending and insisted: “The club has to be self-sufficient.”
Meanwhile Fox has confirmed Mark Birighitti’s injury is not as bad as first feared - although Dundee United may still need to ask for an emergency loan for this weekend’s basement battle with Ross County. The Australian international limped off after blundering big-time for St Johnstone’s winning goal at Tannadice on Saturday, when he took too long to clear and Stevie May slid in and put the ball in the net.
The initial concerns were that the No. 1 had dislocated or fractured his shoulder but he has been left with heavy bruising and swelling. Birighitti hasn’t been able to train and if he is not any better by the end of play today (wed) then United are likely to ask to bring in another goalkeeper on a short-term basis ahead of Saturday’s trip to Dingwall.
Back-up Jack Newman is United’s only current fit senior keeper. Fox confirmed: “He is not as bad as first feared. “It is not as bad as we first thought. “His shoulder is still an issue, although it wasn’t dislocated or fracture. “There is some swelling and soreness so we will see “He didn’t train today. “We are taking it day-by-day to see where we are at. “We will know by the end of tomorrow as to where he is and whether or not we need to look at trying for a loan or not. “It is day by day.”
United are down to the bare bones in goalkeeping options and are almost running as equally thin at the other end of the park. Fox has confirmed that Glenn Middleton’s hamstring injury could keep him out for at least a month. Steven Fletcher is their only fit senior striker, although they have Uganda Sadat Anaku and teenager Rory MacLeod, who is currently in talks over a move to English Premier League side Fulham.
MacLeod was given permission to travel to London on Monday and is now back training with United as he waits for the deal to be finalised. Fox stated: “We’ve probably had a timescale of four to six weeks for Glenn. “It all depends on how Glenn reacts. “It is a hamstring injury. “It is a massive blow for us and the kid because he was coming on to a good bit of form and was doing really well for us. “It is a disappointment. “I also know Glenn is a quick healer and he will do all he can just like Pete and Harkes to get themselves back into the team as quickly as they can. “It is just where we are at the moment.”
Ian Harkes has also been out with a hamstring issue but is pencilled in to return to training next week. Fox admitted he and his sport science are looking at everything to try and cut down on the number of hamstring injuries.
Fox stated: “It is something that has been flagged up. We have had a number of hamstring injuries now and we have been looking at a number of things to try and alleviate any more issues on that front. “It could be down to a number of factors in fairness.
“It could be the pitch , the number of games we have had and the work we expect the players to do. There are a number of things we expect the player to do as well. I am not sure it is just one thing. “It is probably more than one thing but we need to combat it to stop it happening again. “Injuries are part and parcel and we just need to get on with things.”
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