Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon on the challenges ahead

Ray McKinnon admits he is under no illusion as to the size of the task he faces in restoring top-flight football to Dundee United next season.

The former Raith Rovers boss was appointed on a three-year contract last week after Mixu Paatelainen's dismissal following relegation to the Championship.

McKinnon watched from the stands last Saturday as the Terrors, relying heavily on youth players, beat Kilmarnock 4-2 at Rugby Park to end a miserable season on a rare high note.

With the majority of last season's squad having been told to find new clubs, McKinnon knows he must add to the promising youngsters on view in Ayrshire to have any chance of an immediate return.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, the 45-year-old said; "This is a big challenge for me. Dundee United are a very,  very big club who find themselves in the Championship after a disappointing season so I understand the challenge ahead but it's one I am looking forward to."

Asked if the expectation of the fans to go straight back up was one he shared, he added: "Definitely. It's a goal and we will work extremely hard behind the scenes to get it right on the park and we will be giving it everything we can over the season to do that.

"But we are not silly enough not to realise how difficult the task ahead is. We are prepared for that and we are looking forward to it."

McKinnon, who enjoyed two spells as a player at Tannadice between 1988-92 and 1995-98, admits he may have to change the mind set of the players following such a miserable campaign where they spent almost the entire time at the foot of the table.

"They have had a really poor season and we need to bounce back from that," he said.

"The first thing I will do is create an atmosphere where people enjoy coming to work and we can get out there on the training field and try and build momentum in a squad which the fans can be really proud of next season, one hopefully strong enough to put us in contention for the title next season."

And despite chairman Stephen Thompson revealing eight players would be leaving in the summer, with others told they could depart if they found other clubs, McKinnon is hopeful he will be allowed to speak to some earmarked for departure should he believe they would prove an asset in the Championship next season.

"That was more the fact the players were out of contract and there was no funds available at that moment," he added.

"I think that's what was mentioned. I don't think he [Thompson] was in there effectively sacking people. I understand where he was and it's up to me now to take the reins and source players who are good enough for Dundee United to take us back up next year."

"But if I want to keep any of those players I can go and speak to them - that's part and parcel of football. At the end of the season they are out of contract and they have decisions to make for themselves.

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"This is a big club, with big potential, but we are realistic to know there will be cost-cutting measures in place and I will be working within a budget that I feel I can work with.

"This was all discussed in the meetings I had prior to taking the job. I am obviously here now and I'm comfortable with what's in place and looking forward to the season."