Dundee boss John Brown admits that if his budget does not change, finding a new keeper will be top of his to-do list.
The Dark Blues have parted company with two goalies recently with club legend Rab Douglas and youngster Alex Baird both heading for the Dens Park exit.
That leaves the experienced Steve Simonsen and John Gibson, who has been on loan at Montrose this season, as the only stoppers at the club.
Brown admits that it is highly unlikely he will be able to afford to retain Simonsen as Dundee look to cut their cloth for life in the First Division.
He said: “The budget is crucial to whether we can keep Steve. If it doesn’t increase, then no. John Gibson has come back from Montrose but I would be looking for another experienced keeper.”
Dundee’s budget will remain tight unless league reconstruction and the subsequent financial redistribution is pushed through and Brown has stated that, as things stand, he will going with a tight squad next season.
That means several senior players will be told they will not be offered a new deal and Brown is now set to break the bad news to them.
He said: “I will be speaking to some of the boys at the end of the week. The squad has done really well and the fringe ones have not really had a chance.
“So I will have to speak to a few of them and say, if the budget changes, then I may be able to retain more but at the moment it is going to be tight.”