PETER HOUSTON is hopeful Mixu Paatelainen can 'hit the ground running' at Dundee United if he is confirmed as successor to Jackie McNamara.

Houston, who won the 2010 Scottish Cup when in charge at Tannadice, knows the United supporters will have high expectations for their new manager.

However, he is convinced Paatelainen – who is out of work after leaving the Finland national team in June – will prove a good appointment.

And he believes the Finn's knowledge of the Scottish game from spells as boss at Cowdenbeath, Hibernian and Kilmarnock, as well as his time as a player with United, Aberdeen, Hibernian, St Johnstone and St Mirren, makes the 48-year-old a wise choice.

The Falkirk manager said: "Mixu finished top-six with Hibs and won the manager of the year with Kilmarnock, and got the Finland job. So, he has a record of doing well.

"It's an appointment that could be a safe appointment, and by that I mean he knows the Scottish divisions, and has done for a number of years.

"He was very highly praised when he was at Kilmarnock for moving to a certain style of football and the style of building from the back.

"I wish him well because it's a good club. Dundee United is an excellent club, with supporters crying out for a wee bit of success.

"There are always high expectations at Dundee United and that won't change, and what you would like to see is Mixu hitting the ground running to get people onside.

"But, for me, if it is to be him, then it's a good appointment."

Houston, meanwhile, hopes that Gordon Strachan will remain as Scotland manager.

The former national team assistant to Craig Levein is convinced Strachan is the man to lead Scotland, despite the heartbreaking failure to qualify for Euro 2016. He believes another managerial change would be wrong for the international side as they bid to end two decades of hurt by progressing to the World Cup in 2018.

The Falkirk manager said: "Without a doubt I want Gordon to stay on and I think the large majority of the supporters want him to stay.

"I saw a poll that said that something like 81 per cent want him to stay and I don't disagree with that at all.

"There have been good highs at the start of the campaign and disappointments in the last few results, and I can understand it's a disappointment for everybody.

"But Gordon's done well since he's come in and the players have shown that, especially in the first period of the campaign when they put in some good, credible performances and got some good, credible results."