Stephen Halliday: Cup-winning manager is entitled to feel stung by criticism

ANY manager whose side sit just two points off the bottom of the SPL table, with only two wins from their first 12 matches, cannot be entirely immune to conjecture over the safety of their job.

But, despite being the man responsible for those statistics, Peter Houston is certainly entitled to be stung by the intensity of the speculation which has suddenly emerged over his position at Dundee United.

The Tannadice club’s current position is understandably a source of concern, both for their supporters and chairman Stephen Thompson, but it cannot be regarded as hugely surprising in the wake of the significant turnover of the first team playing squad during the summer transfer window.

The loss of key players Morgaro Gomis, Prince Buaben, Craig Conway and David Goodwillie would have weakened most SPL teams. With all due respect to the likes of John Rankin and Willo Flood, Houston has hardly been able to reinforce his squad with players of an equal standard. Financial cutbacks are unavoidable at Tannadice but it is unreasonable to expect them to be implemented without any detrimental effect on the pitch.

Rumours that the end of Houston’s tenure could be imminent have become more persistent in the wake of United’s elimination from the League Cup at the quarter-final stage on Tuesday night when they lost to a youthful Falkirk side in a penalty shoot-out at Tannadice. Yet, while defeat at home to a First Division side is a significant setback for any manager, it should be remembered that Falkirk have also accounted for the departure of holders Rangers from the tournament this season.

As it stands, Houston’s overall record in charge of United since taking the reins from Craig Levein in December 2009 still bears up reasonably well to scrutiny. He has garnered 39 victories from his 92 matches in charge so far, a decent win ratio of just over 42 per cent, with 25 draws and 28 defeats. The third- place SPL finish and Scottish Cup triumph of 2010, United’s first major trophy success for 16 years, saw Houston better anything that his much-vaunted predecessor Levein achieved in the role. United were in fourth place when Levein left to become Scotland manager in December 2009.

Chairman Thompson’s initial response to the loss of Levein at that time is perhaps significant when assessing the likelihood of him dispensing with Houston’s services now. It was no secret that Houston was not initially regarded as a permanent successor to Levein, something he himself accepted immediately after the 7-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox in only the second game of his period as caretaker boss.

But, when Thompson was unable to secure the services of his prime target Pat Fenlon, the Bohemians Dublin manager, United duly went on the impressive run of form which culminated in their day of Scottish Cup glory in the Hampden sunshine in May 2010. There was little doubt then that Houston would remain and he was duly given a three-year contract. Last season’s fourth-place SPL finish, earning Europa League qualification for a second successive year, was another more than passable entry on Houston’s CV.

It is also worth noting that his commitments as assistant manager to Levein with Scotland, being cited as one possible reason for United’s current difficulties, presented no obvious problems last season.

Defeat at Dunfermline tomorrow, coupled with an Inverness win over Motherwell, would see United slide to the bottom of the SPL and perhaps reach tipping point as far as Houston is concerned. Even in those circumstances, he would be justified in feeling he was very harshly treated.