Ross docherty airs bizarre reason that cost skipper a new deal at dundee united

THE 32-YEAR-OLD HAS OPENED UP ON HIS EXIT AND THE REAL REASON BEHIND HIS INJURY WOES 08:00, 21 May 2025Updated 08:20, 21 May 2025 Departing Dundee United captain Ross Docherty has finally

got to the bottom of his injury issues and revealed it was his shoes and not his body that was the issue. The skipper, who had just led United to fourth in the Premiership and back into

Europe, was informed by Jim Goodwin earlier this week that he wouldn’t be getting his Tannadice contract renewed. It was down to the fact that he had missed major chunks of the season with

minor injuries that could have been so easily prevented. Docherty even moved up to Dundee to see if that would prove a solution but it took a simple visit to the podiatrist to cure all his

fitness issues. The 32-year-old explained: “When I decided to move up near the start of the season, I was still getting a few different muscle issues. “I went to a podiatrist and funnily

enough she'd actually said that I'd been wearing the wrong size of shoes. “Before I joined United, I was coaching at Partick Thistle and Ayr United. "I'd always be on my

feet and I'd be wearing regular running trainers, where there's always a bit of give. “Whereas when I came up to United, I stopped the coaching and I was then wearing more casual

shoes. “They were a bit tighter and there wasn’t much give in them. “The podiatrist said, you're basically wearing shoes that are too tight. “Your feet are getting squished and

you're getting loads of calf and hammy issues and that's effectively what was happening. “Since I changed my shoe size and got insoles fitted, I've been back to normal. “That

was at the turn of the year and since then I've felt pretty good.” It enabled Docherty came to the fore when it really mattered to lead Dundee United back into Europe. In terms of his

own United career, the departing captain knows he probably just left it too late to prove his fitness. The midfielder said: “Obviously, the manager gave me the challenge of playing the last

eight games there and I went and did that, playing three games in a week and I felt great. “Its probably the best I've felt in the two years that I have been at United. “That's

probably the frustrating part that it comes up too late for my United career. “But for me, personally, I have gone and proved myself in showing I am 100% fit and I can handle the rigours of

playing regular top-flight football. “I played three games pre-split and then went into the top six split and proved I can handle it there. “That gives me huge confidence going forward. “It

was just good to prove to myself and everybody else the injuries are now behind me and I can look forward to whatever comes next.” Docherty joins the likes of Declan Gallagher and Louis

Moult in leaving Tannadice, as Goodwin brings the average age of his squad down. The trio were all massive players in getting United from the Championship and back into Europe in their two

seasons together. “I can completely understand that they want to maybe reduce squad age and stuff like that,” Docherty acknowledged. “I wish United all the best and thank them for everything

they've done for me. “The manager has been very good over the two years. “There were a lot of changes at the club and I think the manager maybe just wanted something fresh when we were

in the Championship. “He put a lot of faith in me straight away and I hope that I've repaid him and the club along the way. “He’s probably been a bit frustrated at times (with the

injuries) and I have been as well. "But I think for us, as players and as a group and staff, I think we've worked brilliantly together. "I think a lot of our success has come

from that camaraderie and that close-knit group that we've had. “So I want to thank the manager for putting his faith in me. “Also, everybody at the club who made my time there so

enjoyable and also the fans who were brilliant to me throughout my two years at Tannadice.” Docherty will now take time out to consider his options and where his next move will be. The good

news for him is that since RECORD SPORT broke the news of his shock exit yesterday morning, he hasn’t been short of calls from interested clubs. The 32-year-old admitted: “My phone has kind

of gone a bit mental with people asking what's happening and other clubs showing an interest straight away, which has been nice. "I want to take a week or two and almost reflect on

what has been a good couple of seasons, even if they have been a wee bit of frustration at times. “I want to enjoy that and just see what my options are. “If I can go in somewhere and show

my kind of leadership skills, like I have done over the past two seasons at United, then that's what I’ll do, but I don't want to jump in too quickly. Article continues below

"I want to take a bit of time to assess options.”