Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon knows every one of his signings has to be spot-on as he rebuilds the Tannadice team.
Having missed out on promotion by a single goal in the play-off final to Hamilton Accies at the very end of last season, the pressure is on to get it right second time around.
Life in the Championship is extremely challenging – physically, mentally and financially – and there is no room for error.
United are favourites to win the title but there is still a lot of work to do this summer, with McKinnon revealing there could be as many as six new faces arriving to add to the already-signed Tam Scobbie, James Keatings and Billy King.
He knows each player will have to be right for the club as he prepares to work with a squad of 18 first-team players and a couple of youngsters.
However, assisted by head of football operations Darren Taylor, McKinnon is ready to meet that challenge.
The Tangerines boss said: “This is the first chance we have had to really rebuild and it’s exciting.
“For instance, I want to play with wingers so we have brought Billy in and we are looking for more width.
“We have James Keatings as well now but we also need other types of players.
“I think the back line is looking good, with Tam Scobbie giving us more strength there. We have a solid line.
“So everything we will be looking at now will be from midfield to front.
“We are looking at a lot of people just now but we are prepared to be patient.
“We have to make sure we don’t make any mistakes.
“I have to get it right with each signing.
“That’s just the reality of where we are right now. Most people get that.
“That means we are looking at every single aspect of our targets, speaking to as many people as we can about them.
“We will be working with a small number in the squad so we need everybody to be on the same page.
“They all need to buy into what we are trying to do.
“That means being the same type – training hard and setting high standards on the park.
“We need to get this club back in the Premiership and to do so we need the right types.”
McKinnon stressed that he won’t be interested in older pros, who are perhaps in the twilight of their careers.
He added: “The next batch of players will all be in a certain age bracket.
“They have to be experienced but they also have to be of an age where they can stay at the club for a year or two and move us forward.
“Put it this way, we are not looking at 35-year-olds.
“We want people who want to be here this season then next season as well.”
McKinnon is satisfied that United are better prepared now as regards talent-spotting than had been the case.
“We have improved massively,” he said.
“We didn’t have any sort of recruitment policy in place before and the club needs that.
“To be fair to Darren, he has been working so hard, heading down to places like Southampton and back.
“He has been targeting players to follow up and that has helped me a lot.
“That is a huge for us and upstairs on my desk is a long list of names.
“Mind you, it is so difficult at the moment to compete with teams in England for wages.
“They can blow you out the water, even at League One level.”
As well as the need to get every signing right, there is an overall pressure on McKinnon to get the team back up, starting with a tough-looking opening game against Inverness in the Highlands on August 5.
“I think the expectation was there last year and it will be there this year,” he said.
“The expectation is for us to win that league.
“I get that – it’s Dundee United – but it doesn’t faze me.
“I just want to put the best squad together possible and give everything to win the title.
“The disappointment of not getting up is gone now and the focus is on the new campaign.
“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to build a team
“We want a fit, young, vibrant attacking side.
“There is hard work ahead but it will be enjoyable.”
