Dundee boss Paul Hartley has conceded that plans to strengthen his squad for next season could well hinge on his side securing a top half finish this term.
The Dark Blues are going well in the Premiership and have their sights set on overhauling fifth-placed Hamilton after consolidating sixth place with a win at Fir Park at the weekend.
But with a whole host of players out-of-contract in the summer and Hartley already casting his eye over potential new additions, the Dens Park manager would dearly love to see his team kick on and secure a spot in the top six – potentially bolstering the transfer kitty at his disposal in the process.
“It would definitely boost the budget and things definitely change when you get into the top six,” Hartley noted.
“The money is much better so a lot of things will hinge on that in terms of what players we can bring in.
“So I think we’ll just have to wait and see where we are.
“The budget for next year will depend on where we finish up, that’s for sure.”
Hartley was speaking before the club last night confirmed a pre-contract move for striker Rory Loy, with Dundee beating several clubs to secure the in-form Falkirk man’s signature.
The 26-year-old has scored 11 goals so far for the Bairns in their quest for a Championship play-off place, and Hamilton had two offers turned down for the forward in the January transfer window.
But Dundee stole in to win that particular race, and Loy will link up with his new team-mates in the summer.
With that deal now done, Hartley hinted that he has already pinpointed a number of other targets who he thinks can do a job for the Dark Blues in next season’s Premiership.
“There’s a lot of names that have been thrown at us and it would be disrespectful to mention any players,” he stressed.
“We’re trying to do our business quickly and we have got a few situations in the pipeline just now.
“There are a lot of players I like in the lower leagues.
“There are a lot of players that we’ve watched throughout the season and there are a lot of players that we’ve kept our eye on.”
Loy a former Scotland Under 21 cap – started his senior career at Kilmarnock and had spells with Rangers, Dunfermline, St Mirren and Carlisle before moving to Falkirk in May 2013.
He netted 21 times in 41 appearances in his first season with the Bairns and notably scored one of the goals which downed Dundee 2-0 in January 2014 a game that no doubt hastened the departure of then Dens boss John Brown the following month.
His good goal-scoring form has certainly continued this season, and Hartley has decided to act quickly to secure his services.
After extending their unbeaten run to eight league games thanks to their 1-0 win at Motherwell on Saturday, the Dundee players were given a day off yesterday with no fresh injuries from the weekend reported.
“The players seem OK and we gave them the day off to recharge the batteries,” Hartley continued.
“We will start again on Tuesday because rest is just as important.
“You can see the pitches changing, they are a little bit heavy, and so that is why they have been given a well-earned rest.”
Looking back on Saturday’s success, Hartley was delighted to see skipper Kevin Thomson back after a three week absence.
“I thought him and Stephen (McGinn) were good on Saturday,” he added.
“I thought McGinn looks like he’s getting fitter and stronger in there, and when you have Thommo in there you’ve got experience, composure, calmness.”
McGinn has settled into the Dundee midfield well and Hartley admits there is scope for the former Sheffield United man to prolong his stay at Dens Park beyond the end of the season.
“What we said when he came in was ‘see how it goes, see if you enjoy it’ and then we’d see if there’s anything we could do at the end of the season if things go well,” he concluded.
“I think he’s been terrific so far and he’s getting better and better.
“He’s a good football player but not only that, he’s a really good lad and a good professional.”