Dundee United have officially secured the title of "best of the rest" in the Scottish Premiership's bottom six—but don't expect manager Jim Goodwin to pop any champagne corks just yet.

"We're not going to celebrate because it's not what we set out to achieve at the beginning of the season," Goodwin said, summing up a campaign that has left Tangerine fans feeling more frustrated than festive.

The season's underwhelming conclusion was perfectly encapsulated by a goalless home draw against already-relegated Livingston—a result that limped them over the line to a seventh-place finish. That drab performance followed back-to-back away defeats to Aberdeen and Kilmarnock, highlighting a squad that ran out of steam when it mattered most.

Goodwin admitted that where they have ended up is "way short of what we would expect," as the club now faces a critical summer rebuild to return to the top six—a place they believe is their rightful home.

The good news? Work is already underway. Several new signings have agreed to join this summer, with more expected to follow. Of course, with arrivals come departures, and fans should brace for a few familiar faces heading out the door.

Goodwin knows exactly what needs fixing. "We've been craving consistency all season," he said, pointing to a lack of resilience that has plagued the squad. Last season, United finished a highly respectable fourth on their return to the top flight, built on solid foundations. But this year, a brittleness has crept into every area of the pitch—from defense to attack—costing them dearly in tight matches.

If Goodwin can address that fragility and add some steel to the squad over the summer, there's no reason United can't climb back into the mix for European places next season. For now, though, the work has only just begun.