ALLAN JOHNSTON wants to bring in at least four or five new players following a triple signing boost over the last week.

The Pars boss made his second and third captures of the close season recently by snapping up Raith Rovers striker Declan McManus and ex-Kilmarnock midfielder Aaron Splaine, while goalkeeper Sean Murdoch extended his existing deal until 2019 last week.

Athletic’s players are back for pre-season training and Johnston, who is hopeful of agreeing a new contract for midfielder Michael Paton, has been taking a look at trialists with more to follow over the coming weeks.

Dunfermline play Hibernian in a pre-season game in two weeks’ time, and Johnston told Press Sport: “We’re still speaking to loads of different people but it’s going to take a bit of time. You can see throughout all the Scottish clubs that everyone’s looking at their options and at different players but we’re working away in the background.

“We’re trying to get the right quality that’s going to improve us and take us forward. We’re still looking for at least four or five anyway for the first team squad, so we’ll see how we go.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done because we’re still short on numbers but I think that with the squad we’ve got, and even with the young players that are coming through, that if we can add to it in the next couple of weeks then we’re going in the right direction.

“The phone never stops ringing and we’ll get some trialists in over the next few weeks; there’s boys who have been recommended from different places, younger lads and older lads, and we have people we’ve identified ourselves as well.”

In the meantime, Johnston was pleased to fend off competition from other Championship clubs for the signature of 22-year-old McManus and to be reunited with Splaine, who he took from Queen of the South to Kilmarnock.

He continued: “Aaron’s someone I’ve known for a couple of years. I had him at Queen of the South and took him to Kilmarnock as a young kid, and he progressed into the first team. He’s got good energy, is a good passer of the ball, is aggressive and can play in a couple of positions across the midfield. He’s one of those boys who has a desire to come in, play and show how good he is, so hopefully he turns out to be a good signing.

“Declan is another one who’s young – you actually forget how young he is because of the amount of games he’s played. He’s really fast, has good movement and, from speaking to him, he was a wee bit disappointed with the season (at Raith Rovers).

“Sometimes it happens if you’re in a team that’s struggling; especially as a striker it’s difficult. But we’ve seen enough of him to know he’s a good player and can bring a lot of quality to our team. He fits in with the way we want to play, has a great work ethic, can score goals and is at a good age, so I think he’ll do well for us. He wants to come here and help us to be up there challenging because that’s where we want to be. I know there were other Championship clubs looking at him so we’re delighted to get him. He’s a proven striker at this level. He’s desperate to come in and score a lot of goals, and that’s what we’re looking for because that’s what we lacked last year. I think he can definitely add that to the team.

“We still need to strengthen, especially middle to front, but I think these two will definitely add something to the squad we’ve got already. We’ve still got space to bring players in and that’s going to be our priority over the next few weeks.”

On Murdoch’s contract extension, he added: “He was a massive player for us last year so I’m absolutely delighted that he wants to commit his future to the club for another year.

“He was desperate to stay; I think he’s really happy here and is enjoying his football, which is a big thing, and he knows the club’s going in the right direction. He’s the kind of quality you’re trying to keep at the club; he’s a good character, gets on well with the fans, players and everybody about the club.”