St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas says he only wants to sign players who will adhere to the ethos of the club.
The Perth boss is casting his net far and wide initially as he aims to rebuild his squad for the 2012-13 season but will narrow down his selection to players he feels will fit in at McDiarmid Park.
Heading to Perth for talks with Lomas will be Inverness Caley Thistle striker Gregory Tade. The 25-year-old former Raith Rovers man is in Dubai on holiday but Lomas has confirmed he will chat with him on his return from the Gulf city.
”Gregory is someone we like,” he said. ”He is a powerful centre forward and we are looking for a physical presence up top. With Fran Sandaza going, we need to replace his goals.”
Full-back Gary Miller is set to make his way down the A9 to sign for Saints having enjoyed a successful season helping Ross County get promoted to the SPL.
Staggies boss Derek Adams has resigned himself to losing the 25-year-old and Saints are favourites to snap him up.
Others interesting Lomas are Hibs wide man Ivan Sproule, out-of-contract Inverness Caley Thistle keeper Jonny Tuffey and St Mirren forward Nigel Hasselbaink.
Whoever eventually ends up at the club, though, will have to pass a very particular test.
”We want players here who fit into the ethos of good, honest, hard-working pros that the success of the club has been built on,” said Lomas.
”We have a happy ship here and want players who will fit in. And we are maybe looking to reduce the average age of the squad a bit and find players we can work with and improve.”
Lomas also issued a no-nonsense message as regards negotiations with agents over their clients’ wage demands.
”We have a long list of potential targets and it would be naive of us to think we will get everyone at the top of that list,” he said.
”We are speaking to lots of agents but we won’t be held to ransom. If we find targets don’t fit into our budget criteria there is no point wasting time and we will move on.
”This club has been built on a solid base and run properly by previous chairman Geoff Brown and his son Steve will carry on that work.
”Maybe the attraction of European football will give us a wee edge on some other clubs. There has been a lull with guys on holiday but I’m hopeful we will get a few new faces in over the next week or so.”
Lomas would also like to bring back last season’s loan star Lee Croft. He was a big hit for Saints before a hamstring injury prematurely ended his campaign.
However, news that his parent club Derby County have opted to transfer list him rather than release him may dash hopes of a return.
Lomas said: ”I would love to keep Crofty because he showed enough to suggest he would be a real asset to us. But he has another year on his contract at Derby so that one is out of our hands at the moment.”
Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Wire