| After operating as a trialist since the first week of pre-season, the experienced centre-half finally put pen to paper on a one-year deal just prior to the Dark Blues friendly against Wolves yesterday.
The 31-year-old knows it might take time to win fans over — but his message to them is he wouldn’t have it any other way.
He’s set his sights on an SPL return and wants the support to demand the same from every player on the books.
“Having played at United, I know just how big a club Dundee is and that is why I jumped at the chance to come here,” he said.
“It excites me because this is a massive club with loads of ambition. There’s a young manager who wants to be at the highest level and a chief executive in Dave MacKinnon who wants the same.
“That’s what the fans want too and so they should, because this isn’t just a big club in terms of the First Division, it is big in Scotland in it has to be aiming to be in the SPL — it’s up to us to deliver.”
Lauchlan is aware several other transfer targets knocked Dundee back earlier this summer and finds that staggering.
“The manager told me that and I can’t understand it. I know that, in home games, there will be pressure from fans to win and to get back to the SPL, but that is exactly how it should be here and this is the kind of club you want to be playing for.”
After a year wrecked by injury at Queen of the South, he’s also aware he has a point to prove and is confident the next 12 months will see him do that.
“I just want to put the injury problems behind me. The fact last season was a write off and I ended up getting freed by Queen of the South means I am not an exciting signing, but I have had a good pre-season with Dundee and played in nearly all the games.
“I’m feeling fit and want to prove to the fans, myself and a few other people that I can get back to the SPL. I’ve spent a lot of my career there and know what it takes to get to that level.
“I’ve seen the squad here and I know it has the right quality. The manager still wants one or two new faces, but if you look at the spine of the team it is strong.
“You’ve got Rab Douglas in goal and Colin Cameron in midfield and they are quality. Up front, I know that Colin McMenamin and big Curier will get plenty goals at this level, so there is a lot to be optimistic about.”
Lauchlan does, though, warn the First Division will be a dogfight and believes his new club are just one of three sure to mount strong promotion challenges.
“I am sure we will be up there, but Dunfermline and St Johnstone will be strong as well. This is never an easy league to get out of and we will have to play well.”
One of those mentioned, striker Mikael Antoine-Curier, had to come off injured in yesterday’s 1-0 defeat, but he will be ready for the start of competitive action when Alloa are faced in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.
“Someone came down on top of him and his ankle is a bit sore, but it is not too bad and he should be okay in a day or so,” said gaffer Alex Rae.
The final pre-season friendly sees Bradford City visit on Wednesday night and trialist midfielder Makhatar N’diago is set to get another run out in that game.
The 26-year-old Senegalese, whose former clubs include Rangers, impressed Alex yesterday and is being given a few more days to prove he is worth a contract.
“He hasn’t played for a few months so his fitness needs work, but once he settled into the game, I was pleased with the way he fitted in.” |
