Arbroath may be sitting top of League 1, 11 points ahead of nearest challengers Raith but Gayfield gaffer Dick Campbell is certainly not resting on his laurels ahead of today’s latest Angus derby with Brechin.
The veteran manager is keen to bolster his squad for the second half of the season and has lined up three potential targets.
As ever, he was keeping the identities of the players in question close to his chest however Campbell did admit he is hopeful of having new additions at his disposal by next week.
Campbell said: “I am determined to bolster the squad and I have a few irons in the fire.
“There is still a lot of work to be done but hopefully we will have three new players added by this time next week.
“I have targeted a defender, a midfielder and a striker.
“We have lost one front man after Dunfermline recalled Callum Smith from his loan spell with us this week and he leaves with our best wishes while I have decided to put Kane Hester up for transfer.
“Any interested parties should give me a call.”
Campbell added: “However, we are also focused on our important league business against Brechin.
“I felt a draw was a fair result in last week’s derby at Montrose.
“They probably scored against the run of play but after they got a man sent off we stopped playing.
“So the point was a good one especially with Raith losing to East Fife.
“We thumped Brechin 5-1 the last time we played them in what was one of the best performances I have seen from my team but that game is history now.
“It is all about what is in front of us and we will certainly need to be at our best again in another fiercely-competitive derby.”
While Campbell is playing a waiting game in terms of new recruits, his opposite number at Brechin, Barry Smith, added to his squad on Thursday signing former Scotland, Dundee United, Hibs and Raith midfielder Scott Robertson.
The 33-year-old is currently on the coaching staff at Dundee United but has now been allowed to combine that role with playing for City.
Robertson last pulled his boots on for Rovers back in May but Smith has no doubts that his experience will prove invaluable for Brechin.
Smith said: “I have a lot of respect for Scott.
“He hadn’t been playing since he had left Raith so there was a conversation and he was keen to come in and work with me and Stevie (assistant Campbell).
“We are delighted to have him on board and his experience will be invaluable for us at this point in time.
“He has been training and keeping himself fit. Match fitness is obviously different but he will be able to use his experience to get through games until he gets fully up to speed again.
“I am sure he will be a good addition to the squad.
“We also need to strengthen elsewhere. We need to add numbers to the squad and we have players in mind.
“When it comes to Brechin trying to recruit players the simple fact is we are not at the top of the list but we are working hard behind the scenes to get the right ones in.”
Smith is also determined that the players currently at the club will dramatically improve on their showing from the last time they played the Red Lichties.
He added: We felt the full force of Arbroath at the Glebe.
“So we want to make sure we give a much better account of ourselves. Gayfield is never easy to get anything from but we need to be showing we are better than the last result against them.”
Brechin will be without the injured Callum Tapping, Dene Shields and Ryan McGeever.”
