Cove Rangers are preparing for the biggest step in their history as they build towards making their Championship debut.
The club will be in a league which could be comprised entirely of full-time opponents, should Arbroath be successful in the play-offs.
Their record against full-time opponents this season has been good – they only lost once to Queen’s Park and were unbeaten against Airdrie and Falkirk – while they were narrowly beaten by Premiership side Hibernian in the Scottish Cup. They also comprehensively beat Queen of the South in the same competition.
But doing it consistently over a 36-game season is going to require an even stronger squad. If the hybrid model does not fully materialise this year then they will be at a slight disadvantage to the rest of the league.
Here, we take a look at the key areas Cove will need to strengthen before the start of the new season.
Left-back
Harry Milne has been nothing short of a revelation this year. His abilities were known and appreciated but his game has gone on to another level.
The move to three-at-the-back set him free down the left to be an attacking menace. He has played more like a winger at times, complementing the strike-pairing of Mitch Megginson and Rory McAllister with darting runs in behind and pin-point deliveries from the flank.
If Hartley chooses to retain the system for next season – why wouldn’t he? – then finding someone to fill Milne’s boots is an unenviable but necessary task.
It needs someone with obvious physical qualities like pace and energy, but also the decisive touch of quality which is part of the Cove winning machine.
Connor Scully has filled in there if Milne has been unavailable but it is not his natural role and his best performances have come in the middle of the park.
Moreso than any acquisition this summer, a new left-sided player is likely to be the most important one.
Striker
Trying to displace Mitch Megginson or Rory McAllister this season was going to be a virtually-impossible task. They broke the 40-goal mark in all competitions and underlined their reputation as two of the best part-time players in the country.
But McAllister will be 35 at the start of next season and while he hopes to keep playing for as long as possible, Cove could do with a young striker to come in and learn the ropes from him and Megginson.
Trying to find goalscoring strikers is like winning the lottery – everyone wants to do it. However getting in a young, quick forward would be a good start for Cove as they plan to move towards a hybrid model.
Leighton McIntosh and Ola Adeyemo have been the alternative options this season but the latter has been mainly a substitute, while McIntosh’s playing-time has dipped since Cove moved away from using wingers. Both find their contracts up this summer.
Centre-back
The solution to this may come internally for Cove but will be an important one to address should Hartley stick with playing three centre-backs.
Ryan Strachan has struggled with injury this season and is out of contract, while Mark Reynolds is 34 and is arguably more of a short-term than long-term solution at this stage of his career.
Scott Ross has been a consistent performer and Morgyn Neill has improved massively after arriving last year. But they need depth and competition.
Jevan Anderson was signed a year ago but has struggled with various niggles this season. He was loaned out to Elgin City where a shoulder blow ended his campaign early. If he can stay fit and is given a new contract, there is an opportunity for him to fulfil his potential.
Ross Draper signed a three-year contract last year but played just one league game before injury and a loan move to Elgin saw him disappear off the radar. He said earlier this year he sees his future at centre-back rather than midfield but given he is 33 and has barely played for the club, his future is uncertain.
Any new addition would have to be comfortable with bringing the ball out from defence – or be able to adapt quickly as Neill did.