Dundee United could be great if they can keep their talented youngsters

Former Tangerines star Kevin Gallacher fears his former side will be plundered by bigger teams.

Dundee United could mount a serious title challenge within two years. But only if they start snubbing offers for their star players.

That’s the view of former United and Scotland striker Kevin Gallacher, who has followed his old club’s fortunes this season with increasing interest.

Although based in Lancashire, Gallacher has strong family ties to the City of Discovery and watched the Tangerines put Motherwell to the sword with a ruthless attacking display last weekend.

That result came the same day the newly bank debt-free Tangerines reported an annual profit of £319,000.

Gallacher believes United should capitalise on their new-found financial stability by knocking back summer bids for their sought-after young stars.

If they do, he says, there’s every chance Jackie McNamara’s young hot shots will mature into a side capable of challenging Celtic.

He said: “United are a young side and if those players stay together for a couple of years, with a couple of them coming into their prime, things could happen.

“There’s no pressure on the club to sell these boys. The chairman has come out and stated it. It’s fantastic for the football club.

“United are in a position where most of the first-team squad could be classed as assets but the club don’t need to sell to pay bills.

“What you can do then is say: ‘Right, only if a silly, silly offer comes in, this player or that player will go,’ and that will fund the production of the next kids that come through.

“But if you’re in a financial position where you can afford to keep your best players, that’s what you should be looking to do.”

As a product of the famous United youth set-up of the 1980s, Gallacher understands how valuable time can be to a team.

Given his debut in 1985, he slotted into a side which still featured League-winning United stars like Paul Sturrock, David Narey, Paul Hegarty and Richard Gough.

That familiarity over an extended period was a huge part of what made the Tangerines so successful for so long, according to Gallacher.

And he reckons there’s nothing to stop the current crop becoming just as successful if they are kept together.

He said: “When I grew up at Dundee United all the young players came up together. It was very similar to the way it’s being done now.

“If you’ve got a succession of kids who are being brought up understanding the system at the club and the way they need to play, by the time they hit the first team, they’re tailor-made for it.

“That’s the way it’s going at United just now with guys like Ryan Gauld, John Souttar, Ryan Dow, and even going back to David Goodwillie and Johnny Russell.

“These are fantastic home-grown players and they’re always going to attract attention. But if United can hang onto them and make a few shrewd additions they’re only going to get better as a team.”