Ben Williamson says Dundee was the only team for him this summer after he spoke to Dens boss Gary Bowyer.
The Rangers kid signed a contract extension at Ibrox and immediately joined the Dark Blues for the season ahead.
However, he has revealed in an exclusive chat with Courier Sport there were other options to choose from for the season ahead.
But a discussion with Bowyer – as well as testimony from Gers team-mate Stephen Kelly and former opponent Charlie Adam – sold him on the move to Dundee.
‘Mind was made up’
Asked what his aims for the season ahead are, 20-year-old Williamson replied: “My main aim is getting promoted – I love winning.
“That would be good but, on a personal level, it’s about getting as many games under my belt as I can.
“I want to score more goals and progress as a player.
“Getting the extra year on my contract at Rangers is a big confident boost.
“And, to come here, I just need to improve as a player, get as much experience I can and take as much as I can from the players here.
“I had a good few options, a few in the Championship, but as soon as I spoke to Gary Bowyer, my mind was made up.
“The way he spoke and his history of working with young players suited me.
“I spoke to Stephen Kelly, who played for him at Salford, and all he said were good things.”
‘Buzzing’
Williamson made his dark blue debut in Saturday’s win over Stranraer, coming on for the final half-hour in midfield.
That, though, was his first taste of real football for months and the youngster admits it will take a little while to get fully up to speed.
But he’s hoping for more game time against Queen’s Park in the Premier Sports Cup tonight.
“I’m buzzing to be here,” he added.
“I trained on Friday which was my first proper training session really.
“I’d been training with the B team at Rangers but the difference in standard is massive.
“I got straight into the game on Saturday which was my first 30 minutes in about three months so just getting a wee run out and touch of the ball was good.”
‘Ball gets sore’
Dundee is Williamson’s third loan spell in the Championship after turns at Arbroath and Raith Rovers.
The Scotland U/21 man helped the Red Lichties to a seventh-placed finish in 2020/21 as the season ended early thanks to the pandemic.
Last season he played 17 times as Raith finished just outside the play-off spots.
And he’s keen to put that experience over the past couple of seasons to good use for the Dark Blues.
“It’s a really hard league. There are tough games and games where the ball actually gets sore sometimes!” he said.
“You get others where the ball’s on the deck.
“It will be a competitive league but I have full faith in this team by the standard I’ve seen so far.”
Charlie Adam
One of Williamson’s first memories as a senior footballer came against Dundee – and a tasty welcome from then-Dens skipper Charlie Adam.
“That was my second game for Arbroath,” Williamson recalled.
“I remember it being on a Friday night on the TV and I got Man of the Match.
“It was a good game. Playing against Charlie Adam, he gave me a few digs during the game. Just wee kicks and niggles during the game – but I gave as good as I got!
“I’ve spoken to him since and he told me Dundee is a good club to be at.”
Conversation