Dundee boss Paul Hartley has spoken of his delight after finally snapping up Tom Hateley on a two-year deal yesterday.
The Dens manager has been tracking the 26-year-old for some time with the former Motherwell player a free agent after leaving Polish outfit Slask Wroclaw earlier this summer.
A whole host of sides both here and in England were keen to capture Hateley but the Dens manager’s perseverance has paid off.
And Hartley revealed that Hateley’s former Motherwell boss Craig Brown gave the versatile player a glowing recommendation.
Hartley said: “We have had to be patient to get it over the line because there were a few other clubs in for Tom.
“It wasn’t until just the other day we found out that we had a real chance of getting him.
“So we’re really happy to get it done.
“He’s a terrific signing for us, he’s got good experience and has played at a very good level.
“He did well in the Polish league, which is a really high standard, and also knows our league from his time at Motherwell.
“He is versatile, he can play a number of positions so that will be really helpful for us.
“I spoke to Craig Brown about him because he worked with him in the past and he gave me very good feedback.
“He told me what kind of boy he is and what he will bring to the club.
“I always liked him when he was with Motherwell.”
Hateley can play at right-back or in midfield but Hartley is still keen to bolster another area of his team.
He added: “I would still like to bring a striker in because I feel we could do with one more.
“There’s nothing in the pipeline at the moment but there are players out there who are available because they were let go before the window closed.
“So we’re looking to see who is out there and hopefully we’ll get someone in.”
Hartley has two big injury doubts for this weekend’s game against Kilmarnock with on-loan Celtic player Michael Duffy and James Vincent both struggling for fitness.
The manager added: “Craig Wighton is back training after his knee injury and he’ll play for the Under-20s this week.
“Yordi Teijsse is also back again but Michael Duffy had to pull out of the Northern Ireland squad with his thigh.
“So he’s a doubt for the weekend as is James Vincent.”
