Jack Ross' contacts in Scotland will be key in bringing in suitable signings, but they are dependent on departures, according to Shields Gazette.

John McGinn, Kyle Magennis and Florian Kamberi are just some of the names mentioned in the report as Ross aims to utilise his knowledge of the Scottish leagues to make the necessary improvements to his squad.

They have a number of players to take off the wage budget first, though, with Jack Rodwell being the main culprit because he only made two league appearances last season, but earned £73,000 with that reducing to £43,000 this season for the final year of his contract.

The Verdict

Scotland is a good place to look because the players they bring in should be too good for this level and could fit in well in the Championship as well. They are also unlikely to be too expensive, so they could help form a sustainable squad which has to be a priority for the club due to the years of mismanagement under Ellis Short.

A blend of players from the Scottish leagues as well as League One players could work well with whoever remains in the squad to keep them competitive. The fans will want to achieve promotion as quickly as possible, but Stewart Donald is focusing on the long-term future of the club which is the right move.