Dundee United Boss wants chance to take club back to Premiership
Mixu Paatelainen has told Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson he would be ‘a fool’ to sack him.
The Finn could not save his side from being relegated as they suffered fresh devastation with a 2-1 derby defeat against Dundee.
A campaign steeped in misery was finally decided with another dose of agony for the suffering Terrors faithful when the Dens side fought back from Edward Ofere's opener to level through Kosta Gadzhalov.
Craig Wighton then shoved the Dark Blues' neighbours through the top-flight trapdoor when he fired home a stoppage-time winner.
Paatelainen knows his position is now in doubt but he insisted he is the man to lead United out of next season's Championship.
He said: “We have been here a few months now, working with this team and for the club. We've got the necessary knowledge of what has to be done. To be honest, we did identify early on the things that needed to be done. The knowledge is there, the plan is there. Not only player-wise but also off the field, football related. I think only a fool would put that to waste, the knowledge that we have.”
And he admitted it would be helpful if under-pressure Thompson, whose own future is undecided after he announced he is looking for someone to buy the club from him, set him and the supporters straight on his plans for next season.
“I don't dictate what the chairman does,'' said the 49-year-old. I work for the club, for the team, and it is as simple as that. I have a contract and I work regardless of whether there is a statement out about my future. I don't mind speculation although I don't think it is healthy for the club, maybe that would help the situation but I don't advise the chairman. I don't expect him to do anything.''
Paatelainen replaced Jackie McNamara in October but his appointment did not produce the spark the stagnant Tangerines desperately needed. He repeatedly questioned the character of the squad he inherited but of the five signings he made, only goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was in the line-up that lost to Dundee.
Now after registering just five league wins since taking over, United are staring at their first campaign outside of the top division in 20 years.
When asked if he had considered walking away, he added: “No. I don't give up. We came here this season. The ship was sinking already. We tried to tackle those problems personnel-wise. The January window is difficult and we have improved, just not enough. Mistakes keep creeping in and we simply can't afford to have that. That is why we need a totally new angle on things. I am desperate to do that, I love working hard, I don't count hours, I don't have days off. Look at the support today... it has been a miserable season for us and the supporters have been there for us every day. Tonight we gave them a little bit, though not enough to put up with their suffering.”
“I think the players' attitude towards work is excellent, they are honest boys, they try their best, it just isn't good enough. There is softness, slackness, they think someone else can track those players. It is a mentality thing.''
Ofere slotted United ahead as Dundee were hit on the counter attack after 54 minutes but Gadzhalov's header bounced through a ruck of bodies for the equaliser 13 minutes from time.
That would have been enough to relegate United on its own but Wighton delivered one final blow when he smashed home from a Gary Harkins free-kick in the third minute of stoppage time.
Dundee boss Paul Hartley said: “I am not here to celebrate Dundee United going down. It was an emotional game and I am really pleased with the players. I am proud of them coming back from a goal down. There has been a lot of scrutiny on Dundee United but we have just tried to get on with our business as normal, a normal week for us, and all credit to them for how they performed.”