Doubts over future of Peter Houston and Derek Adams add to cup final intrigue

• Dundee United manager Peter Houston and his Ross County counterpart Derek Adams get ready for the Scottish Cup final. Picture: SNS

On a day when Adams was installed as favourite for the St Mirren manager's post made vacant by the sacking of Gus MacPherson, the 34-year-old stonewalled all questions concerning whether he could be tempted from the First Division club he has transformed with a momentous cup campaign. He has become the youngest man to take a team into the final in the modern era with seismic successes over Celtic and Hibernian, the first to do so with a Highland club and only the eighth in charge of a lower division side.

Adams last week stated he may have taken County as far as he could without the revenue from the cup run being reinvested into the squad for a serious tilt at SPL promotion. Yesterday Adams would only say "it is a big day for Ross County and the players are due all the credit" when asked about being linked with other jobs. He then maintained "there is no distraction from Saturday" when pressed further about the St Mirren post.

If Saturday sees him mastermind one of the greatest Scottish Cup wins it is inconceivable Adams would be able to resist the overtures of at least one of the many suitors who would beat a path to Victoria Park.

Meanwhile, Houston will meet his chairman Stephen Thompson next week to discuss a new contract. Initially, the 51-year-old was placed in charge only until the end of the season following the departure of Craig Levein for Scotland in November. On the back of finishing third in the SPL and reaching the Scottish Cup final, agreement being reached over a new longer-term deal for Levein's former assistant had been considered a formality.

Houston reiterated yesterday, however, that he wants to know the club will not be easy touches in the transfer market before committing himself.

Equally, though, the United manager accepts he cannot receive guarantees when it comes to possible bids for David Goodwillie, Gary Kenneth, Morgano Gomis and Prince Bauben, all of whom have recently been linked with moves. Or, indeed, any of the 12 players out of contract next summer, among these Danny Swanson and Francisco Sandaza.

"It is fair to say that, if I get offered the job, it's likely I would take it if the terms are right," Houston said. "I have told the chairman if we lose three or four players, there is no point in me taking it on because this is as good as it gets for Dundee United.

"Next season, it is going to be difficult to emulate what these players have done, nine points clear in third and getting to the cup final. Where does it go from there? If we are going to lose two or three players, it is going to make my job harder, especially if we do not reinvest in the team. I know for a fact United have to sell to balance the books. Things are tight in Scottish football.

"But I want a fair crack of the whip. I'm prepared for the stick and all of that stuff. No problem. But I want to make sure I can continue improving United as a football club.

"When you are successful as we have been this season, it is going to attract interest. Some individual performances from my players this season merit that. I just want to make sure that if players leave, we get their true value.

"It annoys me when I see players leave English Conference clubs for 150,000. We are the SPL and the same buying club will want our players for next to nothing. I say pay what they are worth. As long as we get the value for money, I understand players wanting to better themselves. I have always said if we have players whose ambition is only to play for United, they are no good to us.

"I don't think they will be sold on the cheap and if we get the full value, I don't blame the chairman for taking the money. I can't see the chairman getting done in for a deal. Only when it comes to doing mine."

Many thought the only way was down for United when Levein left. "So did I," Houston admitted yesterday, his thinking then that he had been too many years a No 2 at the club to make a successful transition to ultimate authority for the players.

Now there is speculation that should his former coaching confrere Levein be offered the Celtic job, Houston would have to decide whether to return to the position of assistant or remain with a team that have moved up a level at the same time as he has done so.

Bookmakers have cut their odds on Scottish Cup surprise package Ross County claiming another shock triumph to achieve Hampden glory on Saturday.

Having already taken the SPL scalps of Hibs and Celtic en route to the final, bookmakers are clearly in no mood to lose more money on the gallant Highlanders, with County as low as 9-2 to win with some and no higher than 6-1 with others.

The Dingwall team were rated at 12-1 long-shots to defeat Celtic in the semi-final, only to stun the favourites 2-0.

Meanwhile, County have been taken aback by the number of tickets snapped up by fans for the final. They have sold 17,000 briefs and could yet shift their full allocation of 20,000.

Ranald Gilbert, head of administration, said: "It's the phenomena of the cup final. People who would not usually go to a football match will be going."