Steven Pressley has admitted Dundee are operating with just two fit centre halves ahead of their season opener against Celtic at Celtic Park on Monday.
The Dundee head coach conceded the timing of Aaron Donnelly’s departure to Dunfermline is far from ideal but insists blocking the move would have been the wrong call.
Pressley had already informed Donnelly, a Northern Irish international, that he was surplus to requirements at Dens Park and did not want to stand in the way of his career.
Donnelly has joined Dunfermline under Neil Lennon, with the Pars having been the only club actively pursuing the defender throughout the transfer window.
Pressley, who has just agreed improved terms on a new Dundee contract, was candid about the difficult position the club now finds itself in heading into the new campaign.
“Yes, not ideal timing if I’m honest because we haven’t managed to get a defender in prior to making the decision,” Pressley said.
He acknowledged the complexity of the situation, explaining: “We’re in a really difficult situation in terms of that they’re the one club that’s been really pursuing Aaron.”
Pressley revealed the club had made an arrangement with Dunfermline to utilise Donnelly during the Premier Sports Cup before allowing him to leave immediately afterwards.
“Now if we hadn’t honoured that Dunfermline would have went elsewhere meaning that the deal might not have gone through meaning then we’re in a situation where nobody had committed to taking Aaron,” he explained.
The Dundee boss stressed that keeping Donnelly at the club against his wishes, given the lack of game time he had received, would not have been fair to the player.
“With us not really playing the player for a long period of time it would have been wrong for us not to allow him to go and further his career,” Pressley said.
He acknowledged the temptation to hold on a little longer, adding: “There’s always that selfish part where we’re thinking we need him for a little bit longer.”
Pressley and his recruitment team are now working at pace to bring in reinforcements before Monday, though the head coach admitted new signings before the Celtic match may be unlikely.
“We don’t know, we’re trying but I would say at this moment in time it might be unlikely, but we are pursuing some options,” he confirmed.
Dundee are targeting four additional players in total before the close of the transfer window, with two defenders and two attacking players firmly in their sights.
Pressley noted that Dundee often find themselves having to be patient in the market, as the club is rarely a top priority for transfer targets who may have other options available.
“With most of the players we go for Dundee are not a priority club they’re not thinking that’s where I want to be they might have one or two options and we have to be a little bit more patient around them,” he said.
Despite the current situation, Pressley expressed confidence that the club’s recruitment staff would eventually deliver the signings needed to strengthen the squad.
“I know how hard the lads are working in recruitment if I’m honest, the likes of David doesn’t sleep during the transfer window so we know that eventually we’ll get there,” he added.
About the Author
