Jim Goodwin insisted he is ready to rip up the contracts of any Dundee United who don’t have the stomach for next season’s Championship fight.
The gutted Tannadice boss saw his side’s relegation from the top flight confirmed with a 3-2 defeat to Motherwell at Fir Park and admitted a massive rebuild is on the cards. He will hold talks with captain Steven Fletcher in the hope that his skipper will stay for the final year of his contract but Goodwin - who has already cut loose experienced defender Ryan Edwards - wants a hard as nails back line in place for the start of the new season.
And anyone who doesn’t fancy it will be told they are of no use to him. Goodwin said: “I need to bring in the right type of defenders. Defenders who enjoy the art of defending and put their bodies on the line. That’s my first port of call in terms of recruitment. It’s already started. In the last few weeks, I have been sounding out players and speaking to agents and trying to see what players are going to be available.
“Dundee United in the Premiership is a very attractive proposition for any player. Dundee United in the Championship maybe not so much for some of the high calibre of players we want to bring to the club.
“We have got decisions to make. I need to make sure the players we bring in during the summer have the right character, the right mindset and can handle the level of expectation at such a big club. They will put their bodies on the line and show some passion to the shirt and the supporters. That’s where we have let ourselves down.
“It’s not a case of me throwing players under the bus or anything - they are one of the nicest groups of players that I have worked with. And I think that pretty much sums it up...too nice. Lovely footballers, technically very good, but you have to do both sides of the game regardless of what levels you are at. We haven’t done that well enough this season and that’s why we are in the position we are in.”
Goodwin, who has signed a two year deal to stay, is demanding the same commitment from those who will remain at Tannadice.
He added: “I’ve already spoken to one or two to make them aware of what’s happening. I need a group of players who want to be here next season. That’s the bottom line. I said that to the boys after the game. There is a high percentage of the squad who are still under contract with 12 months left.
“I made it clear to them that if they don’t want to be here or they don’t fancy playing in the Scottish Championship, then just let me know. I’ll not be difficult to deal with. If they think they can go and get something better, then no bother. come and see me and we’ll rip up the contract and send them on their way.
“But what I do need is a group of players who will fight tooth and nail to ensure this club bounces back at the first time of asking.”
Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell was delighted to steer his side to a seventh place finish after being joint bottom when he took over 14 games ago. And he paid tribute to 29 goal marksman Kevin van Veen, who scored for the 11th game running.
Kettlewell said: “It’s remarkable. You see his quality and his composure. It’s an amazing run. I have to pay testament to the run that he is on. It’s pretty breathtaking when you look at it. This is a tough division. It’s a hard old league to play in and chalk up the numbers that he has been chalking up.
“I know he will be disappointed at not getting to the 30 goal mark but listen if you’re scoring 29 goals in this league you’re doing something right. We wanted to finish seventh and it was a nice way to cap off a difficult season. But since I’ve come in it’s been a remarkable run.”
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