Nicky Clark insists Tam Courts nailed doubts over his Dundee United job credentials at his first team meeting.
Widespread negativity greeted the promotion of Courts from the youth academy at Tannadice to replace Micky Mellon last summer.
But not where it mattered in the dressing room, insists United striker Clark, thanks to the new boss making an instantly favourable impression.
The top-flight rookie has dispelled all fan scepticism with a fine season of progress, bringing the club to the brink of European football.
And that’s no surprise to Clark and his team-mates who bought into the former Kelty Hearts coach from day one.
Clark said: “All credit to him, he’s been great. It wouldn’t have been nice for him seeing all the things that were being said.
“But he was always comfortable with us. During his first meetings he sounded like he’d been in the job for years.
“He’s ambitious. He wants us to get better and better. Qualifying for Europe would be a great achievement for us all.”
Clark played in League One and the Championship during three years with this afternoon’s opponents Rangers.
He always felt the club would come back strongly and compete at the top level – but he has been astonished at their stunning Europa League run all the way to a Seville final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Clark said: “The first couple of years it was weird as they sold out Ibrox every single week. Then you went to a Brechin or East Fife and there would be scaffolding around the pitch so the fans could get in.
“The backing the fans gave the club was incredible. They are great memories so it is always good to go back to Ibrox.
“To get where they are now is an incredible achievement.”
Only one Rangers player remains at Ibrox from Clark’s final season with his former club – James Tavernier.
Clark, 30, said: “Tav has kicked right on and is just going to get better and better.
“He has been brilliant. He’s the same person he was and credit to him given the responsibility he has as captain at one of the biggest clubs in the world. He hasn’t changed one bit which is good to see.”
