McCall's budget has already been cut by £200,000 and the manager insists his priority is to bring in a defender following Stephen Craigan's retirement and Tim Clancy's departure for Hibs.

"We're allowing James to train, which is good, but there is very little chance of him joining us. Unless he wants to play centre-half and play for nothing," said McCall. "But it's imperative we get a centre-back in. Steve Jennings, through his agent, told us last week he probably wouldn't be back. We are threadbare to say the least.