Dundee United zero in on Micky Mellon as boss

Appointment likely within 48 hours

Tranmere Rovers manager Micky Mellon. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA

Dundee United will look to install Micky Mellon as their new manager within the next 48 hours.

The Tranmere Rovers boss has emerged as the first choice of Tannadice sporting director Tony Asghar, who was given permission by the League Two club to hold talks with the 48-year-old Scot on Friday.

Mellon has moved to the top of United’s list of candidates to replace Robbie Neilson, who departed for Hearts a fortnight ago, since former England manager Steve McClaren ruled himself out of the running last week.

The club also held talks with SFA performance director Malky Mackay, former St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright and Austin MacPhee, who has retained his role as Northern Ireland assistant after recently departing Hearts.

Paisley born Mellon, left, has enjoyed success in the lower reaches of the English pyramid since embarking on his frontline coaching career in 2008 with Fleetwood Town.

He took the club up to the Conference, the fifth tier of English football, in 2010 and, two years later, guided the club into the Football League for the first time.

In 2014 he was appointed manager of Shrewsbury Town and earned them promotion to the third tier in his first season.

Mellon has also revived Tranmere, despite their controversial relegation this season. That followed the Covid-19 curtailment which came with Tranmere third bottom but on a run of three straight victories, and with a game in hand over AFC Wimbledon, only three points better off directly above them. It followed back-to-back promotions via the play-offs that took Mellon’s Rovers side back into the Football League and then up to the third tier, the success achieved with a core of the players that the Scotsman had inherited.

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