Jim Goodwin to rip up Dundee United contracts if players don't have stomach for Championship scrap

Jim Goodwin insisted he is ready to rip up the contracts of any Dundee United who don’t have the stomach for next season’s Championship fight.

The gutted Tannadice boss saw his side’s relegation from the top flight confirmed with a 3-2 defeat to Motherwell at Fir Park and admitted a massive rebuild is on the cards. He will hold talks with captain Steven Fletcher in the hope that his skipper will stay for the final year of his contract but Goodwin - who has already cut loose experienced defender Ryan Edwards - wants a hard as nails back line in place for the start of the new season.

And anyone who doesn’t fancy it will be told they are of no use to him. Goodwin said: “I need to bring in the right type of defenders. Defenders who enjoy the art of defending and put their bodies on the line. That’s my first port of call in terms of recruitment. It’s already started. In the last few weeks, I have been sounding out players and speaking to agents and trying to see what players are going to be available.

“Dundee United in the Premiership is a very attractive proposition for any player. Dundee United in the Championship maybe not so much for some of the high calibre of players we want to bring to the club.

“We have got decisions to make. I need to make sure the players we bring in during the summer have the right character, the right mindset and can handle the level of expectation at such a big club. They will put their bodies on the line and show some passion to the shirt and the supporters. That’s where we have let ourselves down.

“It’s not a case of me throwing players under the bus or anything - they are one of the nicest groups of players that I have worked with. And I think that pretty much sums it up...too nice. Lovely