Robbie Neilson: Dundee Utd will keep boss even if they fail in Premiership bid
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Robbie Neilson, centre, and assistants Lee McCulloch, left, and Gordon Forrest are striving to end Dundee United's four-season stint in the second tier
Head coach Robbie Neilson will be at Dundee United next season even if the club fail to win promotion, says sporting director Tony Asghar.
Neilson has signed a contract extension until 2022, along with assistants Lee McCulloch and Gordon Forrest.
United have lost in the promotion play-offs in the past three seasons.
"If that thing happens that we don't want to talk about - staying in this division - certainly we'll still have the same team in place," Asghar said.
"When you look at clubs that have been successful, they've had long-term managers in place and even when there are slight hiccups or bumps in the road they can still come back, learn from it and be better.
"My job as sporting director is not to come in here and make changes all the time, when something happens like an Alloa result."
Asghar was referring to the 1-0 defeat by Alloa in United's last Championship outing - a result that leaves them ahead of Ayr United on goal difference at the top of the table after eight games.
Neilson says he is thankful for the backing he has received from Asghar and owner Mark Ogren and says he believes United belong in the top six of the Premiership
"Stability is one of the biggest things you can have at a football club, it's not something that normally happens in football," said the former Hearts and MK Dons boss, who was appointed last October.
"We see this as a long-term project to take the club back to where it belongs. I believe that it's a club that should be in the top six [of the Premiership] and should be trying to challenge for trophies.
"There are seven or eight teams that will be saying that though - we have to prove we can get there and stay there."
Meanwhile, United have also confirmed that 20-year-old forward Louis Appere has also signed a new deal committing him to United until 2022.
Appere has featured in every game this season, scoring twice.