McNamara set for Dundee United

Dundee United aim to tie up the appointment of Jackie McNamara as their new manager today after being granted permission to speak to the Partick Thistle manager.

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McNamara could be unveiled today after emerging as the clear favourite to succeed Peter Houston as Tannadice boss.

McNamara and Falkirk boss Steven Pressley had been the leading candidates in the past few days and the Jags boss edged in front.

A statement from his club on Sunday night read: "Following an approach from Dundee United, the board of directors of Partick Thistle Football Club have reluctantly granted permission for Jackie McNamara and Simon Donnelly to speak to them about their vacant managerial position."

United face the biggest game of their season so far on Saturday when they host Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round and are keen to have McNamara in place in plenty of time to prepare for the visit of Ally McCoist's men.

The players and caretaker-manager Paul Hegarty endured a fruitless trip towards Motherwell on Tuesday night before their Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch less than two hours before kick-off.

McNamara has impressed in his first management job after turning Thistle into Irn-Bru First Division title contenders.

The 39-year-old initially took over as caretaker-manager from Ian McCall in April 2011 and would leave Thistle in second place in the table, five points behind Morton with two games in hand.

The former Celtic and Scotland player led the Jags to a sixth-place finish in his first full season in charge.

Houston left on Monday after chairman Stephen Thompson grew uncomfortable with the speculation surrounding the club following the announcement that the former Scotland assistant manager would not extend his contract at the end of the season.

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