Dundee boss Paul Hartley is being frustrated in his attempt to secure goalkeeping cover.
With injured Kyle Letheren out for up to two months, the Dark Blues manager has lined up a loan deal reported to be Hearts’ number two Scott Gallacher.
However, the SPFL have not yet confirmed that their situation meets the emergency loan criteria.
“We’re waiting to hear if we can bring someone in on loan,” Hartley confirmed. “We’ve got somebody identified. Because it’s an emergency loan we have to go through the procedures of the SPFL.
“It might be 50/50. It might not go through. If it doesn’t we’ll have to look at a free agent, who was free before the last window, which is a bit more complicated.”
Hartley insisted that the two youngsters on their books are not ready for the first team bench, with the possibility of playing in the Premiership should Scott Bain get injured.
He said: “Young Calum Brodie is on loan with East Craigie and Kyle Gourlay is 16 and has just come back from a cruciate injury. They’re not ready.
“Gourlay doesn’t train every day and Brodie is on loan. They’re way off being ready for our team. They’ve no experience whatsoever.
“If this doesn’t go through we’ve got a problem.
“It’s frustrating because we’re in a position where we need a goalkeeper as a back-up but he needs to be able to play as a number one.
“This is what the emergency loan should be for. We’re going through the proper procedure and we’ve sent our stuff to the League.”