The Dark Blues want to speak to the man who has led Stranraer to back-to-back promotions with hardly a penny to spend and, although he does not have a contract at Stair Park, will show his club the courtesy of asking for permission to do that.

They will, though, be speaking to other candidates, including caretaker boss Gerry Britton, and are set to wait until after Tuesday’s Bell’s Cup clash with Airdrie United before moving to make an appointment.

Unlikely to be on the list is Dundee United legend Maurice Malpas. He is understood to be happy to remain No. 2 to Terry Butcher at Motherwell right now.

And, while men with knowledge of the Scottish game are appealing to the Dundee board, the likes of former internationals Gary McAllister and John Collins — both of whom are known to be keen to get back into the game on a full-time basis — should not be ruled out.

An outsider is Stephen Constantine, an Englishman who was formerly manager of the Indian national team and who has expressed an interest.

Meanwhile, the caretaker boss was spending today making sure shocked players will have regained their focus in time for tomorrow’s visit to Hamilton.

Gerry, and former boss Gordon Wallace, were put in charge of the team following Duffy’s departure yesterday and, today, the man who had a spell in charge at Partick Thistle was trying to get a degree of normality back in the first-team dressing-room.

“Obviously, the boys were very shocked yesterday when they were told the news about Jim, but we still have jobs to do and it is important that we all focus on the game in hand,” he said.

And, while Hamilton have been tipped as dark horses in the promotion race, he is convinced the Dark Blues can go there and pick up their first away win of the campaign on the artificial surface at New Douglas Park.

“The boys are top of the league and got there with a good performance at home last Saturday.

“Tuesday night at Stranraer was, obviously, a massive disappointment, but they have a game right away in which to put things right and there is no reason why they can’t do that.

“We’ll be playing on a surface that we are not used to, but I played there a couple of times last season with Partick Thistle and, as astroturf pitches go, it is one of the best.

“It’s certainly a lot better than the ones Dunfermline had and suits good footballing sides who like to get the ball down and pass. We have the players who can do that and that will be the aim.”

Gerry has been listed as one of the candidates to replace Duffy on a permanent basis, but was not discussing the chances of that and will not be before he and Gordon have taken care of tomorrow’s game and the Bell’s Cup clash with Airdrie United on Tuesday.

“Over the next few days, there will be a lot of names linked with the job. We’ll be hearing this manager and that manager will be coming in. I am happy to leave that to the papers and concentrate on preparing for games. I’m honestly not thinking any further ahead than tomorrow and Tuesday.”

Changes will be kept to a minimum at Hamilton, with the only likely alteration being the return of Scott Robertson after he missed the Stair Park trip through illness and injury.