At the beginning of last month former Tannadice boss Jerry Kerr, sadly, passed away. He was the man who was directly responsible for laving the foundations of future success, completely revolutionising the cluh both on and off the park when he became manager forty years ago. And by way of a tribute we are dispensing with our normal Big Interview to reflect in depth on the major contribution which he made during a managerial reign which endured twelve and a half years. To put into perspective exactly how much he achieved at Tannadice it is only right that we set the scene prior to his arrival in June 1959 To put it mildly, not everything in the garden was exactly rosy' Jerrys appointment gave him the dubious distinction of becoming the fifth United manager in less than three years With the advent of Taypools in 1956, the directors had laid in place the financial foundations upon which to build a successful club.

Finding the man to rejuvenate the declining playing fortunes was proving more problematic Reggie Smith had set the wheels in motion even prior to the introduction of Taypools but he had been lured away to Falkirk where he was to be their messiah in the early part of 1957, saving the struggling Bairns from relegation and winning the Scottish Cup within four months of his arrival' Smith s departure was the catalyst to the most turbulent period in the history of the club as far as managers were concerned Ally Gallacher, Tommy Gray and Andy McCall all came and went very quickly, culminating in the club finishing third bottom of the Second Division at the end of season 1958-59 or put another way - 35th out of Scotland's 37 senior clubs. With the advent of Taypools in T 956, the directors had laid in place the financial foundations upon which to build a successful club. Finding the man to rejuvenate the declining playing fortunes was proving more problematic.

Reggie Smith had set the wheels in motion even prior to the introduction of Taypools but he had been lured away to Falkirk where he was to be their messiah in the early part of T 957, saving the struggling Bairns from relegation and winning the Scottish Cup within four months of his arrival. Smith's departure was the catalyst to the most turbulent period in the history of the club as far as managers were concerned. Ally Gallacher, Tommy Gray and Andy McCall all came and went very quickly, culminating in the club finishing third bottom of the Second Division at the end of season 1958-59 or put another way - 35th out of Scotland's 37 senior clubs. This was not the kind of league position an ambitious board had in mind. The poor showing was reflected at the turnstiles too, with Tannadice's average gate slumping to a post-war low ofjust under 3,000 and McCall, the incumbent of the manager's chair for a mere six months, resigned at the end of season 1958-59. In order to hopefully attract the right man, the vacancy was advertised The response was encouraging and their prudent choice of the man to revitalise an ailing United was Jerry Kerr, the Alloa Athletic boss. Stability was urgently required after all the upheaval of the past few years and the former Wasps manager was seen as just the man to achieve that. His brief was to put the club on an even keel and steer it in the general direction of the First Division. He was to do that and a great deal more besides!

Taking up his new post in June 1959, he soon set about the task of re-shaping the playing side. A reserve side was resurrected, playing in the Combined Reserve League. Ernie Ewen was appointed coach with Archie Coats his assistant. On the playing front he secured the services of a very important person - Ron Yeats. Actually, he was already on the club's books, but army duties at Aldershot threatened to deprive United of his services-The ever resourceful Jerry Kerr negotiated a deal by which the big centre-half would at least be released for Saturday matches. Quickly, he turned his attention to bringing in new blood and over the course of his first season achieved the remarkable balancing act of totally transforming the team and at the same time sustaining what proved to be a successful promotion campaign. Just how sweeping the changes he made is quite staggering. Of the eleven first selected by Jerry against East Stirlingshire for the opening League Cup tie of season I 959-60, just four players were to be present when promotion was achieved eight months later - and one of those, lan McFadyen, was only in the side because Jimmy Briggs was injured! Over the course of the season, Jerry Kerr assembled a combination which was not only good enough to hoist us United out of the bottom division for the first time in 28 years, but also the nucleus of a side which was to achieve First Division consolidation. The list is impressive. Inside left Jim Irvine's signature was secured in the face of stiff competition after impressing in the public trial; Jerry went back to Alloa to sign Dennis Gillespie, a player he knew well having taken him to Recreation Park in the first place; Tommy Graham, a right-back was snapped up from Shotts Bon Accord; and Tommy Neilson, released by East Fife proved another inspired acquisition. Continue