Steven Pressley out of the running for Dundee United job

The 48-year-old, who made 133 appearances for United in his playing days, made his managerial debut at Scottish Third Division side Cowdenbeath, with whom he lead (in 2006) to their first league title in 67 years.

Dundee United have parted company with manager Jackie McNamara, the Scottish Premiership club announced on Monday.

It was a rare audience with majority shareholder Thompson and armed only with brutal honesty and a decent line in self-deprecating humour, he tried hard to point towards a positive future under a new, experienced boss as he told rookies not to bother applying. “That’s a belief. In order to do that, I think you have to manage in a country like England”.

“I would rather have three good quality candidates than 70 people applying”.

Thompson also denied that the directors had been lukewarm in their support of Jackie following the double sale of Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong to Celtic in the January transfer window. “It always comes as a shock to you that they have lost their job”.

Behind the scenes at St Andrews, head of youth Steve Campbell was recently suspended and has taken the club to an industrial tribunal and Thompson refused to comment while the case is ongoing.

The Australia global says the entire squad have sympathy with McNamara.

“The club will commence recruitment for a new first-team manager and associated staff”.

“I did that and you can criticise us if you wish”.

“He was a great manager for me up in Inverness”, the full-back said.

The club will continue to make an annual loss unless they can sell another bright star, but the chairman is adamant he will never allow debts to climb to previous levels and their current exposure is manageable.

Thompson said: “It’s unfortunate how it came out but it didn’t come through me”.

“We have started the process and (general manager) David Southern and I spent quite a bit of time on it yesterday”.

Thompson was more forthright on his own long-term commitment to the Tayside club.

“Four or five years ago, we were under ridiculous pressure from the bank to the point where the club could have gone under”, he said. “We feel we have backed him as much as we could”.

“But once he got it going it was a really good style”.