Jim Goodwin has revealed there is interest from elsewhere in some of Dundee United’s prize assets.
The Tannadice boss has already begun the rebuilding process following last season’s relegation as the Terrors prepare for life in the Championship.
Goodwin is looking to bolster his options with the addition of several new players but he admits he is not sure who from the current squad will still be at the club when the new season kicks off.
The Irishman said: “The conversations I had with the players at the end of the season were very positive.
“A lot of them were extremely disappointed with the way the season panned out.
“None of them came to Dundee United in the first place to be involved in that scenario.
“I think some of them are desperate to make amends for what was a really poor season.
“I am not going to sit here and tell you that the squad that is there at this moment in time is going to be here come the first game of the season because things can change in football.
“We have some very good footballers that are attracting a little bit of interest from elsewhere at the moment so we have to try to balance it out with what is best for the club.
“Every decision made going forward will be in Dundee United’s best interests.
“It will be the players who I decide to retain who are under contract and fully committed to the cause.”
Plan to recruit ‘five or six’
Someone who is definitely committed to the cause is Dundee United’s American owner Mark Ogren, who has pledged to continue ploughing more cash into the club.
And Goodwin is delighted that is the case as he looks to add up to six new players to his squad for next season’s Championship challenge.
The 41-year-old said: “The chairman has been brilliant. He’s come out and publicly given us his backing and spoken about the financial commitment he is continuing to make.
“It’s not going to be Premiership wages we are going to be able to offer going forward because we are now in the Championship.
“But I still believe we’ll be able to attract a very good quality of player. We’re looking at, ideally, five or six depending on what happens with the rest of the group.
“We still need to add five or six. Without pointing the finger of blame at anyone in the previous regime, having had a few months to evaluate the squad, I don’t think there was enough balance.
“We’ve had a lot of nice footballers but not enough players willing to do the other side of the game. I think that’s why we ended up in the situation we’re in.
“As much as we want to be a good footballing team to try to entertain our fans here at Tannadice, when we go on the road it might be a completely different situation where we’re involved in some real physical battles, and we need to make sure we recruit those types of players.”
Goodwin is keen to freshen his squad up and at the same time increase competition for places in certain positions.
The manager added: “There does need to be a freshness and fresh faces coming in.
“There needs to be more competition in some key areas.
“Nobody next year should feel comfortable within their position.
“Nobody should feel they are guaranteed a place in the team week after week.
“You need to be performing to keep that jersey and I think last season, there probably wasn’t enough of that.”
