Dundee United: Why Tannadice manager's job is an attractive role after Tam Courts' tenure

For the third summer in a row, Dundee United will look to appoint a new manager following the club and Tam Courts’ decision to part ways with mutual consent.

The destination of Courts’ next move fascinates, as does the direction United go down, with former Hibs and St Mirren manager Jack Ross the strong favourite to take on the role.

Whoever leads the Terrors next season will be taking on a role which is attractive and it should excite.

The club have improved their league position season-on-season for the last four years. After Robbie Neilson rejoined Hearts having brought United back into the Premiership, Micky Mellon consolidated the team in the top flight before Courts built on that and took the club back into Europe for the first time since 2013 with a fourth-placed finish.

The new man will be coming into a club who are in a strong position rather than one in a state of flux – but one with plenty of room for improvement. They don't have to rip everything up and started again. It’s evolution rather than revolution. Something which should work in the club’s favour with Aberdeen and Hibs in transition and likely an unknown quantity when the season begins.

United have a solid core with Charlie Mulgrew, Ryan Edwards and Ross Graham at the back, Liam Smith and Ian Harkes, who is expected to sign a new deal, in midfield and then Peter Pawlett, Ilmari Niskanen and Tony Watt in forward areas.

In addition, Courts did ever so well giving the club's most talented academy players experience last season. Kieran Freeman, Chris Mochrie and Archie Meekison all got a good amount of time on the pitch, while teenagers Rory MacLeod, Miller Thomson and Craig Moore all made appearances.

This is a team still developing. It is not one which