The quality of Dundee’s summer signings could help persuade Gary Irvine to remain at Dens Park, the out-of-contract full-back has revealed.
Irvine admitted to Courier Sport that, with at least one SPL club in the hunt for his signature, he has a ”difficult decision” to make about where he’ll be playing his football next season.
Barry Smith’s capture of John Baird, Carl Finnigan and a few others has convinced him that Dundee will be strong challengers for promotion, and the recognition he’s had from the Dark Blues supporters is another factor pulling him to stay.
He said: ”There’s been a bit of interest from the SPL and I’ll weigh everything up. It’s a hard one.
”I’m not sure about the timescale. I got married last week and Barry has respected the fact that I’ve got to look at all my options.
”I’ve got a young family to think of and money’s so tight in Scottish football these days that you have to make sure you make the right decision.
”One thing I do know is that it’s great to be at a club where you’re appreciated, and I’ve got that at Dundee. It was amazing to get the end of season awards I got from the fans and that’s a hard thing to turn your back on. That’s why it’s such a difficult decision.”
The former St Johnstone man added: ”The gaffer has put together a really good squad. I’ve been really impressed. Myself and Bairdy were in the Celtic youth set up together before our paths went in different directions.
”When I was at St Johnstone he trained with us for a while and he looked really good then. I thought he was going to be offered terms at the time.
”He’s gone on to Raith Rovers and has become one of the best strikers in the First Division, so he’s a great signing.
”Bringing Finners in is a really good bit of business as well. He gave the team a lift when he came from Saints on loan and it was a shame he got injured.
”Dundee’s an SPL football club in my eyes. We need the right squad to get there and it looks like it’s coming together nicely to do that. You can only be excited by what’s happening.”
The prospect of Dundee being promoted to the SPL on the back of a newco Rangers being sent down the leagues won’t influence Irvine’s next move, he pointed out.
”I’ve got all the positive reasons I need to sign for Dundee again,” he stated. ”I’ll have made my mind up before the decision is made on whether Rangers are relegated. That doesn’t come into my thinking.
”For the club though, it would obviously be a big deal.”