There is no panic at Dundee despite much of the major summer rebuild work still be done.
The Dark Blues kick off competitive action in less than a fortnight as Airdrieonians arrive in the Premier Sports Cup.
And the squad still needs extensive strengthening.
However, new head coach Steven Pressley insists there will be no rush to get players in time for Airdrie – they need to make sure they are the right players to help Dundee long term.
‘We can’t panic’
“We know the League Cup games are important but we can’t panic,” he said.
“If you do that and bring people in for these games, but they’re not the right players for the long-term, you end up wasting money.
“What happens is in six months or so you end up needing to change them too, so it gets you into a bit of a cycle.
“We’re working hard but, of course, it’s difficult.
“We have spoken to players who have chosen lower league teams in England over ourselves.
“That’s the reality but we’re really trying.
“The balancing act is getting the quality you need for what you can afford.
“There’s no point bringing in players who are not what we need.
“I knew the scale of the rebuild before I arrived so I’m understanding of it, but it doesn’t make it easy.
“Some people are saying it’s great because we get the chance to put our own squad together.
“But it’s actually not a good situation to be in so we have to make sure we’re not in this position in future.”
Recruitment process
The recruitment setup has changed at Dundee this summer.
Getting players in is now more of a team endeavour, rather than relying solely on a manager.
“There are five or six of us involved in the recruitment process and I like it,” Pressley said.
“A lot of the background work is done by other people so I’m not spending hours looking over players who we don’t get in the end.
“Because spending time doing that takes you away from focusing on your own players.
“It’s a process I like, it’s better than what I have experienced as a head coach in the past.
“Before, I didn’t really like it because you get caught up in too many areas.
“This way, it allows me to focus on preparing the group.”
Acquah excitement
Pressley is still very much part of the recruitment team, using his contacts to identify players like Tony Yogane from his old club Brentford.
He was fully aware of the talents of new striker Emile Acquah with the big striker having been a team-mate of his son Aaron at Barrow last season.
“We are really pleased to get Emile in the door and have done some great business around him,” Pressley said.
“The club has invested in him, he’s at a great age.
“He’s a big striker and I don’t think they truly start to mature and understand themselves until around his age.
“I spoke to a number of people I know who have worked with him and we watched a lot of him.
“He’s got really strong potential.
“He’s already demonstrated that in the English lower leagues.
“When I first spoke to Emile I said to him ‘I can’t believe my son played before you!’
“It’s OK saying that publicly because I told Aaron that as well!
“When I watched Barrow last season I saw a fair bit of Emile but also the head of education in the Brentford academy worked with Emile at Maidenhead.
“He’d spoken to me numerous times about him, how big a talent he was and what potential he’s got.
“He’s a big, physical player who has a lot of technical quality.
“He’s far from just being a target, he’s very good with his feet.
“I look at Emile and see the potential of a good combination with Simon Muray there.
“That’s something which really excites me for the season ahead.”
Burnley loans?
But there are other avenues. Pressley is keen to work with Dundee’s partner club Burnley with more loans possible this summer.
The Clarets going up to the Premier League is a “real plus” for the Dee says the head coach because better players may become available on loan.
“We are speaking to them about what could be possible and hopefully we’ll get there with some things,” he added.
‘He came highly recommended’
As well as the head coach’s connections, technical director Gordon Strachan has plenty.
One of those came up trumps in gaining character references for new Bulgarian signing Plamen Galabov.
Former Bulgaria captain Stilian Petrov proved key alongside his old Celtic boss.
And Pressley is delighted to get Galabov.
“I think that as a centre-back around 29, you’re just beginning to come into your prime,” the head coach said.
“So, we’ve got him at a great age. He’s got really good experience.
“He’s six-foot-three. He brings some real physicality again.
“And with us losing our captain Joe Shaughnessy, it was important that we got somebody of experience in that position.
“We watched a lot of him, and he came highly recommended from a number of people.
“Gordon Strachan, through Stilian Petrov, reached out, and we got some really good background checks on him.
“So, we hope – there’s no guarantee when you sign players – but we hope he can make a real impact.”
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