Took a day longer, but article from today's Sun
PETER HOUSTON is facing the sack at Dundee United after a nightmare run of results.
SunSport understands chairman Stephen Thompson has cut short a trip to America to return to Scotland.
And he will hold emergency talks with under-fire Houston in the wake of Tuesday's League Cup KO by Falkirk.
Thompson is deeply unhappy at the Tannadice side's slump in form and Houston could be forced out if his side don't stop the slide, starting at Dunfermline on Saturday.
Former United hero Michael O'Neill has already been tipped as a potential successor should Houston be axed.
United currently sit third bottom in the SPL, just two points off the relegation spot.
They have only two league wins all season — the last on September 17 — and have suffered five defeats with three of them at home.
The £2.8million sale of striker David Goodwillie to Blackburn Rovers in August was a huge blow for Houston, as were the summer exits of Morgaro Gomis, Craig Conway and Prince Buaben on freedom of contract.
But despite a tight budget he was allowed to bring in experienced midfielders John Rankin and Willo Flood.
And Thompson was expecting far better than he has seen this term.
Houston led United to Scottish Cup glory as caretaker boss 18 months ago and was handed a three-year deal.
They finished third in the SPL last season to claim a Europa League spot. But that adventure was ended by Polish side Slask Wroclaw in July.
The cup quarter-final defeat to Falkirk was a financial blow to United, with Thompson making it clear no more of his family's fortune will be going into the coffers.
It's believed the United owner has never been fully satisfied with his manager's time away on Scotland duty as Craig Levein's No2, especially while club results have also been poor.
Houston admits he can understand why fans are unhappy to be losing to a First Division side packed with teenagers.
But he said: "When you lose to a lower league club people ask questions, but our players gave me everything.
"If you go into a game and your players have downed tools then you have a major problem.That's not the case, "I can understand the fans' frustration because Dundee United should be winning against a young Falkirk side at home.
"I won't make excuses, but I stand by the players because there's not one player who didn't give 100 per cent and are not as gutted as the fans.
"You saw that at the end — the boys were absolutely devastated."
Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3896881/Dundee-United-gaffer-in-crisis-talks.html#ixzz1by28fdNP