Steven Pressley: New signings are 'critical' for Dundee but recruitment is tough

Steven Pressley says it’s “critical” that Dundee add to their squad before the end of the transfer window but admits potential targets have preferred to move to other clubs.

The Dundee boss believes his squad is far short of what is needed for the challenges ahead this season and it is essential that he increases his options.

Twelve players departed Dens Park at the end of last season, including Lyall Cameron and Joe Shaughnessy, and while Pressley has been able to add some new faces, the squad is light in a number of areas.

Forward Joe Westley joined the club this week on a three-year deal and the manager said he was delighted to have bolstered his forward line. He said last weekend’s defeat to Hibernian was an example of why he had to make additions.

“We have to be aware that it’s a long season,” Pressley said. “It’s a season where we are going to need support in different areas.

“At the weekend we found ourselves with Simon Murray out. We had two strikers that started and then no other striking option on the bench. We have to be aware of that.

“We want to be a team that does try to impact the game with being aggressive with our strikers and we need strikers in the building.

“We feel he (Westley) is a player that can certainly impact the league.”

Hoewver, Pressely admitted there were no further signings on the horizon and revealed that potential recruits had preferred to move to other teams.

“We’re not closer,” Pressley said.

“We’ve had discussion with a number of targets and their representatives but we’ve not managed to get them over the line.

“It’s not been a financial issue, it’s just been a decision that the player has made that he’s decided to go elsewhere.

“That’s the reality of football and that’s what we’re fighting against at present.

“We are working hard, we are trying, and I know how important it is.

“I really like this group of players but they need help, and they need more support within the building. We need to do that.

“It’s critical but the other thing is that the personnel we get in has to help improve the team.”

The manager also looked forward and insisted that the club could not find itself in a similar position in years to come.

“This can’t happen again for us as a club,” he said. “Moving forward, we have to have a better process around this.

“We don’t want to be in a position where every season where we are scrambling trying to find the players. We have got to be in a position where there is much more stability around the squad.

“It is difficult to create that but we are trying. We have given out several two-to-three-year deals.

“I know everybody wants success now, but this is a big, big job and a real challenge and we have to get this part right.”