Shed Boy
Oct 7 2002, 11:19 AM
I cannot beleive this, I was calling for his head, did not think he would actually go until rumours started flying about last night that his job was under threat.
Alex Smith has been sacked by Dundee United two games into the reign of new owner Eddie Thompson.
The announcement was made at a Monday media conference held 24 hours after BBC Scotland disclosed that Thompson had decided a change was necessary at the top.
And Falkirk boss Ian McCall and Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Steve Paterson have emerged as favourites to be Smith's successor.
Former Dundee United and Scotland defender Richard Gough is also believed to be interested.
But there is no chance that his former boss at Rangers, Walter Smith, will be appointed at Tannadice.
United boss Alex Smith was under pressure
Millionaire grocer Thompson denied it was a kneejerk reaction, coming after two defeats since he completed his takeover last month left United second bottom of the Scottish Premier League.
"There's no question that this has been pretty tough decision, but I've been watching what the club has been doing and how the manager has been doing and formulating my own ideas for some time," he said.
"I stated that if we didn't start picking up the points then action would be taken.
"The Premier League table doesn't lie. I said I would judge it on performances and see how results went.
"The manager has been with us two and a quarter years and during that time I can't remember missing two games."
Newspaper reports have already suggested that McCall has been approached to take over from Smith.
Thompson insists that nobody from United has talked with the former Bradford, Dunfermline and Rangers winger.
But the new United chairman is known to have a preference for a "younger, hungrier man" to take over from seasoned campaigner Smith.
Smith led unfashionable St Mirren to the Scottish Cup before heading for Aberdeen, where many believe he was unfairly dismissed for not being able to match the record of Sir Alex Ferguson.
But Smith's record of 31 wins in 99 matches since moving to Tannadice does not make impressive reading.
While some on the board may wish to turn to former United defender Walter Smith, who has since gone on to manage Rangers and Everton, such an appointment is unlikely.
Ian McCall has had continuous success
Smith is believed to want to continue his career in England and would probably come more expensive than United's budget.
As United have no cash to buy players, it would also be a different kind of job to those Smith has experienced before, when he had large sums to deal with at Goodison and Ibrox.
He himself dismissed the possibility of taking over at Tannadice and said: "I find it a bit sad as Alex has had four chairman and had no stability at the club."
Gough is another with strong Tannadice connections, but the former Everton and Tottenham Hotspur defender does not have the coaching experience for which Thompson would be looking.
McCall has proven himself capable of building teams against the odds at Clydebank, Airdrieonians and now Falkirk.
He has turned a side only saved last season from relegation by Airdrieonians' liquidation into runaway leaders of the First Division.
Paterson led equally cash-strapped Caley Thistle all the way from the Highland League to consolidation in the First Division.
From BBC Scotland
Alex Smith has been sacked by Dundee United two games into the reign of new owner Eddie Thompson.
The announcement was made at a Monday media conference held 24 hours after BBC Scotland disclosed that Thompson had decided a change was necessary at the top.
And Falkirk boss Ian McCall and Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Steve Paterson have emerged as favourites to be Smith's successor.
Former Dundee United and Scotland defender Richard Gough is also believed to be interested.
But there is no chance that his former boss at Rangers, Walter Smith, will be appointed at Tannadice.
United boss Alex Smith was under pressure
Millionaire grocer Thompson denied it was a kneejerk reaction, coming after two defeats since he completed his takeover last month left United second bottom of the Scottish Premier League.
"There's no question that this has been pretty tough decision, but I've been watching what the club has been doing and how the manager has been doing and formulating my own ideas for some time," he said.
"I stated that if we didn't start picking up the points then action would be taken.
"The Premier League table doesn't lie. I said I would judge it on performances and see how results went.
"The manager has been with us two and a quarter years and during that time I can't remember missing two games."
Newspaper reports have already suggested that McCall has been approached to take over from Smith.
Thompson insists that nobody from United has talked with the former Bradford, Dunfermline and Rangers winger.
But the new United chairman is known to have a preference for a "younger, hungrier man" to take over from seasoned campaigner Smith.
Smith led unfashionable St Mirren to the Scottish Cup before heading for Aberdeen, where many believe he was unfairly dismissed for not being able to match the record of Sir Alex Ferguson.
But Smith's record of 31 wins in 99 matches since moving to Tannadice does not make impressive reading.
While some on the board may wish to turn to former United defender Walter Smith, who has since gone on to manage Rangers and Everton, such an appointment is unlikely.
Ian McCall has had continuous success
Smith is believed to want to continue his career in England and would probably come more expensive than United's budget.
As United have no cash to buy players, it would also be a different kind of job to those Smith has experienced before, when he had large sums to deal with at Goodison and Ibrox.
He himself dismissed the possibility of taking over at Tannadice and said: "I find it a bit sad as Alex has had four chairman and had no stability at the club."
Gough is another with strong Tannadice connections, but the former Everton and Tottenham Hotspur defender does not have the coaching experience for which Thompson would be looking.
McCall has proven himself capable of building teams against the odds at Clydebank, Airdrieonians and now Falkirk.
He has turned a side only saved last season from relegation by Airdrieonians' liquidation into runaway leaders of the First Division.
Paterson led equally cash-strapped Caley Thistle all the way from the Highland League to consolidation in the First Division.
From BBC Scotland