Dundee starlet Leighton McIntosh has signed a new deal with the Dark Blues in the latest bit of business concluded by manager Barry Smith.
McIntosh, thrown in at the deep end in the closing stages of the season due to the club’s selection woes, shone brightly enough to persuade the club to offer him his first professional contract.
The 18-year-old striker has committed his future to the Dens men for the next three years, following in the footsteps of his boss Smith who agreed a similar deal.
Stephen O’Donnell has also put pen to paper and the midfielder believes he has pledged his future to a team that will be pushing for promotion next season.
O’Donnell was one of the stand-outs for the Dens men as they reached the safety of sixth spot in the Division One campaign just ended. He is now confident the Dark Blues will be one of the sides fighting to get back to the SPL when the action kicks off again.
“That has to be the aim and I don’t see any reason why we can’t mount a challenge,” said O’Donnell, who has agreed a one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.
“We all know it is going to be very hard because this is notoriously one of the most difficult leagues to get out of.
“I think people know where Dundee belong as a football club so it is just a matter of trying to get back there. What we achieved against all the odds in the season just ended will hopefully stand us in good stead.”
O’Donnell is happy at Dens and was pleased to get the opportunity to stay.
“I am delighted to have signed the new deal,” he said. “It is a big relief, to be honest.
“For the past couple of summers I have always been left wondering where my future would lie, which is never nice.
“However, I can allow myself to relax a little bit now in the close season and prepare for coming back for pre-season training.
“It is not an easy time for players right now but to have signed the deal with Dundee so soon after the season has just ended is a massive boost for myself and family.
“There is a good buzz about the club just now |having stayed up and, with the manager Barry Smith staying as well, we have got every right to be optimistic about next season.”