Dunfermline manager Jim Jefferies is already planning for next season, despite having not knowing which division the East End Park side will be playing in.
The veteran coach ran the rule over a Swedish trialist at the club’s Pitreavie training complex last week, but will not be pursuing a deal.
Two further youngsters, both free agents having been released by clubs south of the border, have been training with the club in recent days and impressed in a friendly against Livingston on Tuesday afternoon.
And Jefferies has confirmed there is no time to lose as he begins the rebuilding process at the SPL’s bottom club.
The 61-year-old said: ”We’re already having a look at some players that have been recommended to us and the best way to judge is by having a look in bounce games.
”There is no point standing still and we have to look at improving this squad. If we stay in the league then we need to make sure we are not in this position next season.
”If we are relegated we want to be in a position to build a team to come straight back up. The work starts now not at the end of the season.
”There’s a lot of information to go through and contacts to talk to, even from the short time I have been here, so I’m looking around immediately.”
Jefferies’ charges are seven points adrift of Hibs at the foot of the table, having endured a miserable recent run of just one win in 20 league matches.
With 18 players out of contract in the summer and Dunfermline around £8 million in the red, relegation would mean serious cost-cutting at the club in the close season.
The Pars boss has urged the current squad at East End Park to ensure a mass clearout is not necessary.
He continued: ”The first priority remains to make the best of what we have at the club at the moment. The boys have been giving me 100% effort, we just need to get a result.
”They know they are playing for their futures here and the best chance for anybody to stay at any club is to win football matches. If we can do that then we believe we can stay in the division and give the current players a better position.”
Ahead of Saturday’s trip to St Mirren, Jefferies has been boosted by the return to fitness of Nicky Phinn, Andrew Barrowman and Paul Burns, all of whom featured in Tuesday’s bounce game. Indeed, Barrowman netted twice in the 3-1 win over Livi at Broxburn.
Jefferies added: ”It’s no secret that when Jim (McIntyre) was here he had some horrendous problems with injuries and in the first couple of weeks I’ve had some boys missing, but we’ll maybe have more to choose from this weekend.”