However, these four players should only be the start. Two key areas of the team still need to be strengthened and in both cases the problem has existed for six months, possibly longer.
The most pressing concern is in the centre of defence. We desperately need more cover there. Most people accept that for most of last season we could have done with an extra centre half for cover. Since then Ian Maxwell has left and Andy Millen has finally retired, meaning we are in even more need of cover. While the promotion of Marc McAusland should take care of the emergency back-up that Millen provided, we still need two more centre halves. Fortunately, manager Gus MacPherson seems to be aware of this. Attempts to lure Falkirk's Kenny Milne and Livingston's James McPake to the club may have proved unsuccessful, but at least they show MacPherson recognises that there is a problem and the extent of it.
The other main area in the team that needs sorted is on the right side of midfield. While some players - such as Hugh Murray, Stephen O'Donnell or even Jack Ross - could be played there, we desperately need a natural right winger who has a bit of pace and a good cross on him. The situation in this position is slightly more worrying. While there have been rumours about central defenders coming in, there have been none about right wingers. Last summer MacPherson recognised there was a problem in that position by signing Chris Birchall on loan. Now that Birchall has gone, the problem has arisen again (it actually arose last December) and it desperately needs to be dealt with if we want to create chances for our strikers as we bid to improve on last season's woeful "goals for" column.
There are other areas of the team that need strengthened. Arguably, we could do with more cover in the left of defence and another creative midfielder. However, the centre of defence and the right wing are surely the priorities now. It seems that when the players return tomorrow they could be joined by a few trialists. If this is what we're relying on to sort these problems out then it's a bit worrying. The problems have been plain to see for months and if we're pinning all our hopes on these trialists we could be in big trouble if they turn out to be rubbish or there are complications in signing them - which happened with all but one trialist last summer.
There's still a month until the season starts and a whole pre-season to be negotiated. Fingers crossed that when we face Celtic at Parkhead on August 10 the problems have finally been dealt with.