Aberdeen defender Graeme Shinnie believes a new stadium and training complex will help the Dons compete in the Scottish transfer market.
Chairman Stewart Milne has announced plans to move from Pittodrie to a new home near Westhill with the 19,000 capacity stadium located next to a training facility.
The Dons have used various sites across the city in recent years, from Countesswells to Balgownie playing fields.
The club’s search for a new home could be near an end, however, with a public consultation underway about the proposed site at Kingsford.
Should the proposals be approved Milne hopes to have the new training ground ready for 2018 with the stadium following in 2019.
And Aberdonian Shinnie believes the progress off the field will be crucial to his club’s hopes of achieving greater success on it.
He said: “It is clear the club is going in the right direction and for my first year here we’ve had a strong league campaign.
“The end to the season was disappointing, but on the whole it has been a good one for us and we want to keep building.
“That’s why the training facilities are so important. Having our own training ground will help in terms of attracting players to sign for the club and when we get a new stadium as well it will be massive for the club.”
Shinnie is enjoying his break ahead of his return for pre-season training next month, but is still frustrated at his club’s disappointing end to the campaign.
Aberdeen lost five of their last six games of the season as their title challenge wilted, but former Caley Jags defender Shinnie has backed his club to bounce back.
Manager Derek McInnes has already strengthened his forward line by signing attackers Jayden Stockley and Miles Storey from Bournemouth and Swindon Town while a goalkeeper and defensive reinforcements are also required.
Shinnie said: “It was a bit disappointing that we didn’t beat the points tally from last season as I think we could have done it.
“It was something that we were aiming for in the final games, but I know we will all be ready to go again next season.
“The manager knows where we need to strengthen and I’m sure he’ll be doing that.
“We’ve got a squad to build on and I know we’ll be stronger next year. We’re all already looking forward to that.”
