Defender Not Being Forced Out Of Tannadice.

In the past, there have been many professional footballers who have been instructed by Dundee United to find themselves a new club.

Usually, when the club want to cut the wage bill, it`s the 1st team fringe players or those with long-term injuries that are the first to go.

Defender Steven Robb has been struggling with injuries for the past few seasons, so it was not a surprise that Dundee United told him he could leave Tannadice for 1st team football somewhere else.

However, it was a surprise that United have thrown the 25-year-old a safety net, by offering to allow him to return to Tannadice, if he can`t find himself a new employer.

Craig Levein has obviously been impressed by what little he`s seen of Robb in action, and in an usual move the United manager has given Robb the chance to stay at the club.

"I have spoken to Steven and we won`t be signing him on a new contract but, unusually, it is absolutely nothing to do with his ability," Levein admitted to the Dundee Courier.

"He needs first-team football every week and I can`t guarantee him that right now. I couldn`t put him in as a definite starter because he has had that many problems."

"We had a long discussion and agreed that he needs to play as much as he can. I think Steven is a really good player and he has done well for me when fit."

"Right now he has been looking sharp in the reserves so he is going to see what else is available to him and I will keep the door open just in case. It is an unusual situation in the sense that it has been left up in the air."

"If he finds something that he fancies and wants to do then he will go and do it. But if he doesn`t and we get to the end of the summer then I will sit down with him again and look at the situation."