Two on County agenda

Dingwall: StaggiesinmarketformorebutformerplayerIrvinewillnotreturn

Ross County want to add two more players before the start of pre-season but former defender Gary Irvine will not be one of them.

Reports yesterday linked County with bringing Irvine for a second spell but co-manager Steven Ferguson said he is not a player on their radar.

Ferguson and fellow co-manager Stuart Kettlewell are keen to bring in a defender and another striker before they head out for Wageningen in the Netherlands on July 2. Josh Mullin, Declan McManus, Iain Vigurs and Jamie Lindsay have all signed permanent deals with the Staggies this summer with a host of players committing to their first season back in the Championship.

The club have also sold Jason Naismith to Peterborough this week and are in the hunt for a replacement. However Irvine, formerly of St Johnstone, Dundee and St Mirren, will not be it.

Ferguson said: “Gary has played at the club before and we know all about him but we won’t be bringing him in. We feel we’ve moved quickly to get the squad to where it’s at and would like two more players before we start preseason. That’s the target. If we get any more than that it’s because we’re enhancing the squad, rather than bringing bodies in for the sake of it.

“Jason’s move wasn’t going to have a great deal of influence in what we were going to do anyway. We know what we’re looking for and it’s a case of continue doing what we’re doing. A couple of times we’re getting priced out of players, by the likes of Dundee United who seem to be paying more than what we’re prepared to pay for players. If someone doesn’t fit in with our wage structure then we’ll look to the next target. That’s the way we’ve done it since we’ve come in. “We’re looking to add another defender and a different option at the top end of the pitch. These things don’t happen as quick as you would like but we’re really happy with what we’ve done and we’ll be patient.”

The fee for Naismith was believed to be in the region of £250,000 and will see the ex-Buddie ply his trade under Steve Evans at Posh in 2018-19.

Ferguson added: “It’s a good deal all-round – Jason had his reasons for wanting to move on and we respect that. He’s got all the attributes to succeed in League One.”