The mix of familiarity and freshness about Dundee has convinced Gary Harkins to return to Dens Park for a third time.
The midfielder is convinced the Dark Blues can challenge for a top-six place in their first season back in the Scottish Premiership.
The 29-year-old knocked back the offer of a contract from Oldham Athletic and other English clubs to come back to Tayside, and there wasn’t much in the way of deliberation after being offered a two-year deal at Dens.
He said: “I’m delighted to be here again. It happened quite quickly. I only signed my release papers on Friday and got a phone call the other day. I enjoyed myself down there (at Oldham).
“They offered me a deal, but the offer here was too good to refuse. It feels like home already.
“I don’t know what it is about Dundee, I just love the place. I’ve always enjoyed my time here, even though there have been some tough times, and I’ve done well.
“I’d say it’s where I’ve probably played my best football. It’s a great feeling to be back.”
Harkins is signing number nine for Dundee, and the former St Mirren and Kilmarnock man believes Paul Hartley has done some excellent business over the last few weeks.
“It’s like a new dressing room,” he said.
“There are a lot of different faces. The squad is shaping up really well. All the changes that have been made seem to have been for the better.
“It gives you a bit of excitement about getting the new season started. It’s just signings at the moment, but if we play the way I think we can play people will take notice. Hopefully we can make an impact.
“I don’t see why we shouldn’t be looking at top six with a club this size and the players we’ve got in that dressing room. I’m certainly not looking any lower, and I’m sure the gaffer and the rest of the boys will feel the same.
“Everybody who was here last year, and the new boys, will have the same targets get up as high as we can.”
St Mirren wasn’t the right fit for Harkins, but he insisted that the other option last summer wasn’t palatable.
“I ended up at St Mirren because I didn’t want to go across the road,” he pointed out. It was one of those things that just didn’t work out. I wish them all the best.”
Hartley said. “He’s got real quality about him. We had to move quite quickly to get him, to be honest. He’s got that creativity about him to open things up for us in the final third.”
The Dens boss is still hoping to make another three or four signings as the overhaul of his Championship-winning squad continues. To that end, there could be two trialists heading to Hungary for their training camp later this week.
Meanwhile, Hartley stressed that the departure of chief executive Scot Gardiner at the weekend will not affect his job.
“Not really,” he stated. “As a football manager you just keep getting on with the job.
“To be fair, I had a fantastic relationship with Scot and he helped me bring in the players we’ve already signed. I’ll now work with the people who are here now.”