SIMON DONNELLY admits it would be a ‘disaster’ if Dundee United missed out the play-offs.

Csaba Laszlo’s side fell out of the top four on goal difference on Saturday as third-placed Morton scored a last-minute equaliser at Cappielow.

United face Dumbarton at Tannadice this evening and still have two games in hand over Dunfermline as they look to move back into a play-off berth.

But former assistant manager Donnelly knows their fortunes must change quickly if they are to avoid another campaign in the second tier.

He said: “We all know United are a Premiership and should really deserve to be there.

“To miss out on the play-offs would be a disaster.

“Look at big clubs down south. It happens everywhere if you don’t get your act together.

“For a team who, at the turn of the year or maybe just before, you are thinking they are pushing St Mirren for the title. Now they are 21 points behind them now. It’s amazing.

“I don’t know if what is happening above them affects at player level.

“It can affect the atmosphere around the stadium if there is unrest about at board level.

“That can filter through to fans and maybe then through to some of the younger boys. In our last six months there, I thought the environment was not particularly good in terms of atmosphere.

“Because we had young players in the side and were under pressure to get results, it affected them.

“Maybe they are experiencing something similar just now, I don’t know. “