Dundee boss John Brown has revealed there will be no more new deals at Dens unless the proposed new investment is accepted.
Experienced defender Gary Irvine became the latest player to re-sign for the Dark Blues.
However, Brown warned that until progress is made on the planned cash injection from Keyes Capital, there will be no more fresh contracts on offer at first-team level.
“That’s the budget gone now so unless the investment comes off then we are where we are and will just need to get on with it,” said Brown.
“The last three weeks have been murder because of all that has been happening, with the question marks over the investment and directors resigning etc.
“We didn’t know where we were. So (chief executive) Scot Gardiner and I have managed to get a squad together when just two weeks ago we only had a handful of players.
“I kept the players informed about what was going on and told them to just bear with it just now. If it’s possible, I would still like another couple of players to finish off the squad.
“I believe we do need to do that because we have young strikers like Leighton McIntosh and Martin Boyle. Peter MacDonald looks the part but he could probably do with a bit more experience up front to help him.”
Brown accepts the need for reassurance to be given to the Dundee FC Supporters’ Society, whose lawyers are considering the replies to the heads of terms forwarded to them by the Keyes consortium.
However, he reiterated his belief that it’s worth giving it a go.
“Hopefully the society will give us a decision sooner rather than later,” said Brown.
“I know they don’t want the club to go down the route they went down in the past, but having spoken to the investors myself, I think it is a good thing for the club.
“That’s because it is not about throwing money at the first team. It is going to go into youth investment and the football club to do up the ground etc.
“There would be a bit of money for the senior side but there won’t be crazy levels of wages. That’s the route the club has gone down in the past, when they have paid money they couldn’t afford.
“This investment is all geared towards youth, though.”
Irvine signed on the dotted line on what was the first day of pre-season training. Much to the players’ surprise, the emphasis was on ball work and not hard graft.
Brown explained: “All the boys have been eager to get back into it. We haven’t been hammering them and I would prefer a gradual build-up.
“So we had the ball out and they got a touch of it right away. There is other fitness work we will do but the boys have enjoyed the first day back.
“We still have plenty of time to prepare because our first league game is not until August 10.
“Also, we have a bye in the League Cup so that just leaves the Ramsdens Cup and I will be using that to blood some of the younger lads and try some things.
“Talking of young players, we have brought in a kid from Glasgow who I won’t name just now. It is early days but it’s a tip from a contact so we will stick him in digs for a week and have a look.”
The mystery young player is not former Celtic youth Carlo Monti, who is also on trial at Dens just now.