Dundee United hope to appoint a new manager next week after Micky Mellon’s Tannadice exit was confirmed last night.
The Tannadice board are set to meet in the next 24 hours to move the process of appointing a successor forward.
United youth supremo Tam Courts is the clear frontrunner with the bookies while John Hughes, Derek McInnes and Billy McKinlay have also been quoted.
But Record Sport can reveal two big names also linked with the job - Stephen Robinson and Alex Neil - are not in the running.
The Tannadice hierarchy are looking to take the club in a new direction with a greater emphasis on producing their own talent through the United youth system.
Courts, whose only previous managerial experience was with Kelty Hearts, has been head of tactical performance at the United academy for the past 15 months and took charge of the team for the 2-0 defeat at Livingston in December while Mellon was self-isolating after a covid outbreak.
Mellon left yesterday after just 10 months in charge having reached an amicable agreement with United chiefs.
And the Paisley-born former Tranmere and Shrewsbury boss insists he can leave Tayside with his head held high after stabilising the club in the Premiership with a ninth place finish and reaching the Scottish Cup semi-final.
He said: “I am immensely proud to have been manager of Dundee United and my role in improving the club’s standing within Scottish football.
“In what has been an unprecedented season due to the pandemic and in the absence of the opportunity to have a close relationship with the fantastic fan base, I leave content that I have played a substantial part in taking this club forward.”
Speculation has been rife over the past couple of months that Melon could return south having been linked with the vacancy at Doncaster and now his ex-club Tranmere.
United chairman Mark Ogren said: “After a constructive and open discussion reviewing the season and with his initial targets reached, both parties agreed that now was the correct time to part ways.
“Micky leaves with our best wishes and gratitude for his achievement this season and we wish him every success in his future career.
“ Dundee United will now look to appoint a new head coach as we look to build on the strong foundations put in place over the last few seasons in accordance with our long-term performance strategy.”
