It is no exaggeration to mention him in that same pantheon of working class Scottish managers who performed miracles - Stein, Shankly, Busby. What that man did for all of us as a Football Club should never, ever be forgotten. Dundee United would not be what they are right now without that man and by his own admission he sacrificed everything for the job, including as he freely admitted himself, any semblance of a family life.
He famously said that as he watched us, Ralphie inspired, rip apart Standard Liege in the European Cup in 1983 that he for once had no words or instructions to deliver - it was the perfect team performance that bore the fruits of all that he had done since becoming manager. I wish he could have appreciated what he did all the more at the time as he did say that was one of his regrets.
If there is one thing I could say to him now would be not to worry - we appreciated those performances and those years more than he could know. And it was all down to him, pure and simple.
He wasn’t Wee Jum, he was OOR Jum. One of our own. And there will forever be an empty seat in that dugout that can never, ever be filled or replaced. You’ll love I’m sure the endless tactical discussions you’ll enjoy now with the likes of Stein and Shankly and when you see him, please don’t give Ralphie a hard time!
You cannot and will not be forgotten and you have our eternal thanks. From all Arabs, Rest In Peace Jim, you gave us it all and you had nothing more to give. What a Colossus - we will never see your like again.