First Team
All The Info | Rangers (A)
22nd November 2024
At a press conference called for this afternoon, a very pleased Manager Alex Smith announced the signing of United starlets Mark Wilson and Stephen O'Donnell on new contracts. Underlining the importance of Dundee United's youth development programme, Smith declared: "It is crucial for us as a Club to continue our policy of rearing our own players, to mould and prepare them, with the help of our coaches, for first team football. Both Mark and Stephen have proven that they are ready to cope on that level and, if they continue to work hard, stand a great chance to play their part in the future of Dundee United. In that, they follow the line of players like Gallacher, Thompson, Easton and Paterson, as well as, more recently, McCunnie, Winters and Duff, all of whom have come through the Club's own youth development programme. Together with a few more signings in the course of the next week, they will forge a nucleus of future United players who know what it means to have been brought up by the Club. It is important to swing away from heavily contracted foreign players and to focus on our own youth."
Praising his latest signings, Smith declared: "Mark, of course, had his debut in our last derby, where men have to be men, when he not only showed that he is perfectly capable of playing such an extremely tough game as far as ability is concerned, but also that he can handle it in terms of temperament. He is currently injured but we hope to get him back for couple more matches this season. He's a player who has played at every international youth team level and also was named the SFA Young Player of the Year in 2001. We are absolutely delighted to have him on contract for the next few seasons."
"Stephen, like Mark has been involved on the national youth scene and had his first SPL start last Saturday against Hibs when he demonstrated very convincingly that he is ready to play at this level, too. He is an exceedingly talented midfield player, and an excellent passer and crosser of the ball who can go on to achieve great things in the game."
The Manager finished by paying tribute, firstly to his own coaching staff in Paul Hegarty, Maurice Malpas and Assistant Manager John Blackley, and furthermore to the Club's chief scout, Graeme Liveston: "Graeme has done a superb job for the Club. His judgement is second to none, and all the players he has brought to the Club are showing excellent talent. The ultimate credit must go him and his staff."
Praising his latest signings, Smith declared: "Mark, of course, had his debut in our last derby, where men have to be men, when he not only showed that he is perfectly capable of playing such an extremely tough game as far as ability is concerned, but also that he can handle it in terms of temperament. He is currently injured but we hope to get him back for couple more matches this season. He's a player who has played at every international youth team level and also was named the SFA Young Player of the Year in 2001. We are absolutely delighted to have him on contract for the next few seasons."
"Stephen, like Mark has been involved on the national youth scene and had his first SPL start last Saturday against Hibs when he demonstrated very convincingly that he is ready to play at this level, too. He is an exceedingly talented midfield player, and an excellent passer and crosser of the ball who can go on to achieve great things in the game."
The Manager finished by paying tribute, firstly to his own coaching staff in Paul Hegarty, Maurice Malpas and Assistant Manager John Blackley, and furthermore to the Club's chief scout, Graeme Liveston: "Graeme has done a superb job for the Club. His judgement is second to none, and all the players he has brought to the Club are showing excellent talent. The ultimate credit must go him and his staff."
