UNITED APPOINT HEAD OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

Dundee United confirmed on Thursday that  Darren Taylor has been appointed to the new position of Head of Football Operations. Starting on 1 April,  the 45-year-old Dundonian will oversee the recruitment of players from youth academy right through to first team. "This is a role for someone who is professional, has great attention to detail and sound football knowledge. Darren Taylor brings all of that," Dundee United Manager Ray McKinnon said. "I wanted someone in to do this job because recruitment is a massive part of producing a successful football team and I trust Darren unequivocally. In today's environment where information about the many players who are available or nearing the end of contracts inundates you, Darren's primary role will involve building relationship within this network and separating the realistic and potential options from the irrelevant. He will travel all over the United Kingdom be watching games and compiling reports based on my requirements and produce a short-list of targets for me to make the ultimate decision.” ARABZONE MEMBERS CAN WATCH RAY’S INTERVIEW HERE. Loyalty in such a role is a vital ingredient as is trust and Darren and Ray have built up trust over a working partnership that has developed from the very beginning of Ray's coaching career. Darren has, since the summer of 2016, performed this role for the Club on a part-time basis around his successful professional career, and was instrumental in helping new signings settle in the Dundee area. "It is another smaller but nevertheless important part of the role," said Ray, "Darren has great people skills. This appointment strengthens our ability to ensure the best possible signings for Dundee United at all levels." "A successful Dundee United team playing at the top level, one  that fans can be proud of  is all that matters at the end of the day, and I believe that having Darren here can help me take this Club back to the Ladbrokes Premiership.”