Dundee boss Paul Hartley has expressed his delight after concluding no less than four pieces of signing business yesterday.
The Dark Blues manager started putting the building blocks in place for next season after snapping up Inverness duo James Vincent and Danny Williams on pre-contracts as well as persuading current Dark Blues Darren O’Dea and Paul McGowan to sign extended deals.
Versatile Williams, who’s 28, previously of Kendal Town, and midfielder Vincent (26) formerly of Kidderminster Harriers, both joined Caley in 2013.
Now though, they are set to move to Dens at the end of this season on three-year deals where they will meet up with their new team-mates including O’Dea, who has also put pen to paper on a three-year contract, and McGowan, who has signed up for another two seasons at Dens.
The Inverness duo have been long-term targets for Hartley and he will no doubt be hoping that they have a similar impact to another former Caley player he signed for Dundee last summer, Nick Ross.
O’Dea, who joined the Dark Blues in January after leaving Indian Super League club Mumbai City, has been a rock at the heart of the Dundee defence in the absence of long-term injured centre-half James McPake, while McGowan has been in top form in recent weeks.
Hartley said: “I’m delighted to get Danny and James signed up because we’ve been working on it for a while.
“Danny will bring quality and versatility to the squad, I’ve always been impressed by him when he’s played against us in a number of positions.
“James is another player I’ve always liked and although he’s had a couple of injuries this season he has been one of Caley’s best players in the last few years.
“Speaking to the pair of them, I think they just wanted a new challenge and were very keen to join us.
“So we’re delighted to get them on board and get it done early because that’s the way we want to work.
Hartley added: “Getting Darren O’Dea and Paul McGowan signed up as well is another boost.
“Darren has travelled a lot in the last few years but he wants to be settled now.
“We started speaking to him about six weeks ago and it was very clear he likes it at Dundee and wanted to stay, so we’re thrilled at being able to get it done.
“And as for Paul McGowan, he’s been probably our most consistent player this season.
“He had his troubles last year but he’s a real joy to work with every day because he comes in, works hard and just gets on with his job.
“He’s been a great signing for the club and we’re really happy he’s staying for another two years at least.”
Hartley admitted that the Dundee squad will once again not be the largest next season and he is only expecting to add maybe one or two others before his signing business will be concluded.
The manager added: “I have always said it’s best to do your work early instead of scrambling around over the summer when everyone else is.
“We will be going with a tight squad again next season so I can see us adding only one or two more players.
“If we can get a couple more in then I think we’ll have a really strong squad for next season.”
Two members of the present squad, Thomas Konrad and Kosta Gadzhalov, had to come off with injuries during Sunday’s derby at Tannadice.
The former has now recovered but the latter will have a scan on his injured shoulder today.
Meanwhile, Dundee have now officially confirmed that they have submitted an appeal against the red card shown to Scott Bain during the match against Dundee United.
As revealed in Courier Sport yesterday morning, the club feel they have sufficient grounds to have the dismissal decision overturned and they will now present their case to the SFA.