MIXU PAATELAINEN, the Dundee United manager, has described the atmosphere around the club as “toxic” and warned there would be severe cuts to the playing budget whether the Tannadice side are relegated this season or not. Their fate could be settled in the coming days should second-bottom Kilmarnock beat Hamilton this afternoon and United then failed to defeat rivals Dundee at Dens Park on Monday night. United has been a club in turmoil for some time now, with fans protesting outside Tannadice following last weekend’s defeat to Hamilton, chairman Stephen Thompson revealing this week that he would listen to offers for his shareholding, and his sister Justine Mitchell resigning from the board after the Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Hibernian.

In a passionate address, Paatelainen compared recent events at United to relegated Premier League club Aston Villa and warned there would be uncertain times ahead even if United could somehow find a way to close the eight-point gap to Kilmarnock over their remaining four league games.

“We still have a chance to save our season but regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season we must make big changes,” he said. “The budget will be cut severely regardless of what league we are in.

“It’s one thing after another at the moment but when a club is in the position that we are in then that’s always the case. There’s always plenty negativity. Look at [caretaker manager] Eric Black’s comments about Aston Villa. There’s a lot of toxic in the air. And it’s the same with us because of where we are. It’s natural. But it’s not nice. It hurts. Do you go into a corner and start crying? Or do you roll you sleeves up, make a plan, and fight to make things better? That’s the spirit from me. The football side of things has not been good enough. Nowhere near. And we have to correct that.”