A native of West Lothian, Kerr enjoyed a lengthy playing career as a full-back, predominantly as a part-timer or amateur.
When at Alloa he assembled a partnership of inside forwards Dennis Gillespie (who he would later take to Tannadice) and John White.
In 1959 United manager Andy McCall (their fifth in less than five years), resigned after leading the part-time club to third bottom place in Division Two.
Kerr's first policy upon joining United was his insistence that his players be full-time, a gamble that could have cost the club dearly.
He also insisted that there had to be a properly constituted reserve side and an end to the previous policy of buying in over-the-hill First Division players.
Hamilton were beaten 5–1 at Tannadice with seven games to go before a crowd of over 11,000 putting Accies firmly in United's rear view.
Other players to flourish like defensive giant Yeats were the forward pair of Gillespie (whom Kerr had brought with him from Alloa Athletic) and Jim Irvine scoring 21 and 23 goals respectively.
This produced a 4–1 aggregate victory over FC Barcelona in the Fairs Cup that included a 2–1 win at the Nou Camp.
Kerr is remembered for taking United from third from the bottom in Scottish League Football to a secure place in the top division.