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Dundee United manager Peter Houston leaves the Tannadice club by mutual consent

Dundee United manager Peter Houston has left the club by mutual consent.

Houston, 54, had announced he would leave Tannadice in the summer after deciding not to extend his contract, which expires in June.

However, the club said on Monday that Houston had hastened his exit, with the search for his successor under way.

"It's been something we've been thinking about for a few days, and that's the decision we've reached," said United chairman Stephen Thompson.

Thompson said he is hopeful the club will appoint a new manager by the weekend.

"I'm going to go back and speak to my board and have discussions with them," he said.

"You'll find out in the next couple of days where we are. I would prefer someone in place before this weekend.

"We've been working on it for the past wee while, quietly, behind the scenes."

And BBC Scotland has learned that a candidate from England is under consideration by the Tannadice board.

Houston, who has been in charge at Tannadice since December 2009, won the Scottish Cup months after replacing Craig Levein, making him the second United manager to win the trophy.

"We wish him all the best for the future," said Thompson. "He's done a great job and it's just time for both parties to move on.

Houston, who has been in charge at Tannadice since December 2009, won the Scottish Cup months after replacing Craig Levein, making him the second United manager to win the trophy.

Thompson refused to confirm the identity of an potential candidates he has spoken to in relation to the role.

"We've had a very long list, and we've taken our time to look at what we'd like and what we're looking for," he said.

The chairman added he felt the departure of Houston now rather than at the end of the season was "the best move for the club", and defended the way the decision had been originally announced.

"I know on the continent it works very well, that the coach says he's stepping down before the end of the season," said Thompson.

"It's maybe different in the UK, we're maybe not quite used to that kind of thing."