New Dundee signing Declan McDaid has revealed that despite already having an offer on the table from another club, he jumped at the chance when he heard there was interest in him from Dens boss James McPake.
The 23-year-old winger became the manager’s first signing of the summer on Thursday after a successful spell with Ayr United.
McDaid, who started his senior career at Partick Thistle, is now looking to kick on with the Dark Blues.
He said: “I got back from holiday at the weekend and heard from my agent that there had been interest from Dundee.
“Straightaway, I knew I wanted to come here so I am glad I got it sorted.
“I had an offer in Ireland but this was a much better option and I am just glad to be here.
“I am a winger who wants to get at people, I like to put balls into the box, try to get shots off, get goals and assists – just help the team as much as I can.”
McDaid added: “The manager said he was excited to get me in and it feels good to be wanted.
“I am buzzing with that and just want to get started now.
“I was at Partick Thistle and wasn’t getting the game time I needed so I went to Ayr to get that.
“Now, I just want to kick on here and play more games.”
Before McDaid signed for Dundee, McPake oversaw another piece of signing business by handing Cammy Kerr a new deal at the club.
The full-back’s future had been uncertain under previous boss Jim McIntyre and Kerr admitted that as his contract had run down, he had contemplated life without the club he had been at since the age of eight.
Kerr said: “To grow up your whole life, and that is all you know, having to pack your bags and say your goodbyes, it is a tough thing to do, and I have never done it so to try and prepare myself was extremely hard.”
While delighted to sign a new deal, Kerr admitted he was far from happy with the season just past as Dundee were relegated into the Championship.
He said: “You look at yourself and think, what could you have done, and what can you do in the future to make things better.
“It is not sitting right with me where we are. I don’t think it is sitting right with anyone in the club and that is a massive part of this club going forward, getting the right people in that are desperate to play for Dundee and push them on.”
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Dark Blues are edging closer to coming to an agreement with former Scotland boss Gordon Strachan about a possible role at the club.
McPake has already admitted he has turned to the 62-year-old for advice but it now looks increasingly likely that Strachan will be involved at Dens in a formal capacity.
A technical director role has been mooted but Dens chief John Nelms stressed last week: “Gordon’s great. We’re working on a few things as we speak – I’m just not ready to say anything about that at the moment.”
