Tam Courts leaves Dundee United by 'mutual agreement'

Dundee United have confirmed manager Tam Courts has left by mutual agreement.

The 40-year old took charge last summer and guided the club to a fourth place finish in the Premiership.

However, reports last week suggested he could be on the brink of a move to Croatian side Rijeka.

The Tannadice club have now confirmed Courts expressed a desire to explore other options and have agreed to release him from his contract.

A club statement read: "Dundee United can confirm Head Coach Tam Courts has left the club by mutual agreement.

"Courts led United to our highest-placed finish in nine years, securing European football for the first time in a decade.

"He also gave 16 Academy graduates first team experience, with Archie Meekison, Kieran Freeman and Ross Graham earning Scotland U21 call-ups.

"But after expressing a desire to explore other options away from Tannadice, we have now reached an agreement with Courts that will see him leave the club with immediate effect.

"Sporting Director Tony Asghar has already begun the recruitment process and we anticipate making an announcement on this in the coming days."

Ashgar went on to thank Tam Courts for his service to the club and revealed they already have a preferred candidate in mind.

He said: “I’d like to place on record our gratitude towards Tam Courts for the service he has given Dundee United both as Head Coach and in his previous role as Head of Tactical Performance,” said Asghar.

“We made a brave appointment last year by promoting from within but it was a calculated risk that clearly paid off.

“We enjoyed a lot of success on the field last year and qualified for Europe. This is testament to the culture we have created throughout the club.

“Tam bought into our long-term strategy to develop some of the finest young talent in Scotland. The fruits of our labour are there for all to see with the recent international call-ups of Archie, Kieran and Ross.

“But through the course of discussions with Tam it became clear he was keen to pursue other options and we had to look after the best interests of the club.

“Following continued discussions, we have now agreed to mutually terminate his contract to allow him time to secure his next opportunity.

“He leaves with our best wishes, but I would like to assure Dundee United fans that the club is moving in a timely fashion to appoint a new Head Coach.

“We have identified a preferred candidate and we anticipate making a further announcement on this in the coming days.”

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