Head coach Steven Pressley believes Dundee must work hard to avoid a repeat of this summer’s “scramble” for players.

Since the end of last season, Dens Park has lost a double-digit number of established players, while eight new faces have joined.

Pressley, who replaced Tony Docherty at the beginning of June, wants another five. “This can’t happen again for us as a club,” said the manager. “Moving forward, we need to have a better process for this.

“We don’t want to be in a situation where we’re scrambling every season to find players. We need to be in a position where there is much more stability within the squad.

“It’s difficult to create, but we’re trying. We’ve given out several two- to three-year contracts. “I know everybody wants success now, but this is a big, big job and a real challenge and we have to get this part right.”

Dundee lost their Premiership opener at home to Hibs on Sunday and failed to advance from their League Cup group, with Pressley describing the number of contract expirations and loans last season as a “perfect storm” with “nobody to blame”.