Dundee United sack manager Jackie McNamara

Chairman Stephen Thompson believes “top managers within the game” will be attracted to the Dundee United post after confirming the exit of Jackie McNamara as manager.

Record Sport sources state that the embattled boss left the club after watching his side lose to ten-man St Johnstone in Perth.

“Dundee United Football Club and Jackie McNamara have mutually agreed the departure of McNamara as first-team manager with immediate effect”, a United statement read.

He will now turn his full attention to appointing McNamara’s successor this week to ensure United have a new man in the dugout for this weekend’s crunch trip to Firhill to face bottom club Partick Thistle.

The visitors took the lead at McDiarmid Park when Billy McKay converted a first-half penalty after a red card for Saints keeper Alan Mannus.

The former Scotland global was informed he would no longer be responsible for first-team duties as United slumped to a run of seven Scottish Premiership matches without a win.

They were furious when it emerged that the former Celtic star was entitled to a cut of any transfer fees, including the sale of Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven and Nadir Ciftci to Celtic, and that wasn’t helped when popular coach and talent spotter Stevie Campbell was suspended.

“We kept the ball well and had good movement”.

“At 1-1 they maybe controlled the game a bit and I thought “we could just get away with a draw here or something”.