Jack Ross given Dundee United green light as Paul Paton predicts 'transformative' season under incoming boss

Paul Paton insists there’s a fabulous opportunity awaiting Jack Ross at Tannadice.

And the former Tangerines ace reckons the potential possibilities could run and run if the favourite to become Tam Courts’ Dundee United successor can hit the ground running in Europe.

The former St Mirren, Sunderland and Hibs boss has been holding talks with Terrors chiefs this week, with an announcement on his appointment understood to be imminent.

He won’t have long to get to grips with a squad that booked its return to UEFA competition by finishing fourth last term, with United due to kick off their Europa Conference League bid just five days after their Premiership curtain raiser on July 30.

Reaching the group stage would bank the club a minimum of £2.7million with the promise of more to come with every point picked up.

They last tasted European action in 2012 when they lost 7-2 on aggregate to Dynamo Moscow in Europa League qualifying.

And ex-United favourite Paton insists that cash could help Ross ensure last season’s lofty finish becomes the norm for the Taysiders.

He said: “There’s a big opportunity coming up at United – and it could get even bigger in just a few weeks with the club going back into Europe.

“If they can progress all the way to the group stages there’s the potential there for a big pay day which could be transformative for the club and restore them as one of the major forces in Scotland.

“I know they finished fourth last season but if they could land that kind of income that comes from qualifying it would make the job of sustaining those levels so much easier and they could find themselves there for years to come.”

United sporting director Tony Asghar claimed the club had already identified a “preferred