Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon is ushering in an age of realism at Tannadice to prepare for life in the Championship.
McKinnon finds himself in the powerful position of being able to mould the Tangerines into exactly what he wants them to be because if they are to turn their fortunes around after one of the most traumatic seasons in their history then it will primarily be due to his management skills.
As he takes his first few tentative steps in the job, McKinnon wants everyone to understand that his United will be a different proposition to what has gone before.
For example, the club has been guilty of financial largesse at times but, with cash so tight down a division, he wants value for every penny spent.
That means there will be no inflated salaries and no gambles taken regarding signings.
An experienced goalkeeper will be brought in and that theme of players who have “been there and done it” will spread right through the team McKinnon builds.
There will still be room for young talent to prosper and fans can expect to see the likes of Harry Souttar, Matty Smith, Jamie Robson, Justin Johnson, Bradley Smith and Cammy Ballantyne feature next season.
However, that youth will be used to complement a core of experienced pros rather than form the spine of the side.
McKinnon has already started his recruitment drive as he looks to bring in the six to seven new faces he feels he needs to construct a first-team squad of around 22.
It won’t be easy, of course, as reality bites and United need to live within their means.
McKinnon, speaking from the club’s training base at St Andrews, said: “The club is in a different market now.
“I can’t afford to get any of my signings wrong – it’s as simple as that.
“We can’t take any gambles so I need to be completely sure the players we’re bringing in are the right ones.
“I wish I had the funds to go and spend £1500 each a week on eight players but I don’t.
“We’re not shopping in Waitrose any more, it’s Asda now.
“So I need to make sure everything I get from there is good and lasts.
“I know people are wondering why we have not made signings yet but that’s down to the fact I don’t want to rush.
“The work is being done in the background.
“We are speaking to people and looking at a whole load of options.
“We will start making signings before too long but I need to make sure we have done all the work we can on them first.
“I’m speaking to various players and agents about joining us,” added the United boss, who has been linked with Ross County midfielder Stewart Murdoch.
“We are looking for a goalkeeper and I have already spoken to someone about that.
“I want experience in that position as Luis Zwick is a promising young player but we need someone with proven quality.
“We need a keeper who can give the back four plenty of confidence and use their experience.
“That’s what I want through the spine of the team.”
McKinnon was, understandably, giving nothing away as regards his targets but one man whose name was left off the “keep” list issued by the club before the end of the season but who McKinnon wants to keep is left-back Paul Dixon.
McKinnon revealed: “I have spoken to Paul and told him I want him to stay.
“I want to get him back to playing like he was a couple of years ago because it isn’t that long ago that he was in the Scotland squad.
“He is a quality player and if we can get him buzzing and confident then he will be the best left-back in the league.
“So he is someone I want to stay here because I think I can get the best out of him.”
The age of realism will extend to how United play, with McKinnon adamant that flair may have to be sacrificed at times in order to get results.
He added: “As a manager you need to adapt to suit the level you’re working at.
“For example, if you went to the Championship in England and tried to play football you would be out of a job within two months because you would get beaten every week.
“Up here, if you are in the top six in the Premiership you can play any way you want and have any philosophy you want to talk about.
“But right now, for us, it’s about winning games and trying to get out of the Championship.
“There is no point saying we are going to try to play like Barcelona because you can’t do it in the league we’re in.
“Obviously, we want to play in the right manner and we will do so, but you have to be pragmatic as well.
“You always want flair in your team but we know it won’t be plain sailing so you have to have that steeliness too.
“We’re not daft and we realise you have to do what’s best to bring the club success.
“You need a solid base and then that allows your creative players to play their game.
“Hibs went with a very experienced team in the Championship last season and still couldn’t get promoted. Falkirk have had the same group of players for the last two seasons now and they fell just short.
“You will get games where teams will put 10 men behind the ball and smash into you.
“So anyone who thinks we’re just going to turn up and turn people over will need to realise that isn’t how this league works.
“We need a bit of realism.”
McKinnon is expecting opposition teams to relish playing against his men.
The former Brechin and Raith boss said: “Teams will look at United, see that we have been a top-six club and they will see us as a massive scalp.
“That is the way it has been for Hibs and Rangers so people set their teams up accordingly.
“It has been a struggle for them and they haven’t had things all their own way.
“So we will have to be adaptable because this is going to be a really big test.
“As manager, I have to get the balance right in the squad so we have the players to cope with everything we’re going to face.”
The new reality will also see all thoughts of a trip abroad in pre-season banished in place of a locally-based summer schedule.
McKinnon said: “We will stay locally for pre-season and I’m trying to arrange three matches before the League Cup starts.
“We will come back properly for training on June 27, although the players will be in for two days before that and then have the weekend off.
“So between that time and the games starting there are only really three weeks so we are going to stay here.”