Arbroath and Montrose have both launched audacious bids to sign former Scotland and Dundee United defender Garry Kenneth.
The 26-year-old is a free agent after leaving Bristol Rovers last month by mutual consent.
The centre-half had endured a difficult spell at the English League Two side after leaving Tannadice for the Memorial Stadium in the summer of 2012.
This time last year, Kenneth ruptured knee ligaments in a game against Gillingham and missed the rest of the season.
Despite battling back to fitness, he continued to find his opportunities limited and he eventually negotiated an early end to his three-year deal with Rovers.
Kenneth has now returned to Scotland and is on the look-out for a new club, but at the moment the United 2010 Scottish Cup-winning hero will not be joining either of the Angus part-time outfits.
Red Lichties boss Paul Sheerin said: “Garry is a free agent just now. He was highly thought of a couple of seasons back, but he has lost his way a bit since his injury at Bristol Rovers.
“But he is exactly the sort of strong centre-half we are looking for, so I contacted Garry about coming to Gayfield. I thought a spell with us would put him in the shop window again, but he is determined to find a full-time club.
“However, I have not given up on trying to get him in and we will see what develops. I was also keen on bringing in Kevin Nicoll from Albion Rovers.
“He was one of the players on our list of targets as I had been impressed playing against him. He is a good footballer and also carries a bit of physicality.
“But Rovers’ asking price was a bit steep for us.”
Like Sheerin, Montrose boss Stuart Garden was given the same answer by Kenneth when the pair had a phone conversation on Tuesday night.
The Links Park boss said: “Garry wants to stay full-time, which I can understand, but he says he will keep us in mind if nothing comes up.
“I am actually looking to bring in two or three. Gareth Rodger will not be returning on loan from St Johnstone and we had lost Lloyd Young because of his work commitments.
“Now Stephen McNally has also found a job offshore so the squad is looking a bit bare. Hopefully, we will be able to bring a couple in sooner rather than later.”