John Rankin says he has specific targets he hopes to secure early in the January transfer window that will strengthen his struggling Hamilton Accies squad.
The New Douglas Park gaffer took the reins at the end of June following Stuart Taylor's protracted exit during the summer, but he has led them to just two wins in 17 league matches.
Rankin's last transfer window didn't go according to plan with a short time between his appointment and the window closing on September 1.
And those he did sign like midfielder Reegan Thomson, who was released in October without kicking a ball, and Newcastle United Lucas de Bolle, who has been sidelined for months with concussion issues, have backfired.
However, with the winter window just a few weeks away from opening, Rankin hopes for better fortunes in 2023 and says he is ready to swoop for fresh faces.
He said: "We've been working on things for the last 2-3 months.
"We know exactly what we are trying to do and where we are. We have made contact with different managers and agents, so we are actively working on things and we are progressing.
"I know what January is like and whether you get the players you want can be a different story.
"But we have highlighted the ones we want and we are desperate to get that to happen sooner rather than later.
"We have got Cove Rangers on December 23 and no games after that until the window opens so there is a big gap there when we will look to get them in, so they can come in at the start of January and help us straight away.
"With the summer window, I wasn't aware of my position until early July so we were late in the recruitment programme there, whereas we are a wee bit ahead of the game this time in terms of highlighting targets and making contacts with their clubs.
"The January window is always a difficult one because players are either not playing at their clubs or out of favour with their manager. We need to make decisions now and get things done quickly.
"I feel we are more prepared than we were in August because we have specific targets that we are ready to act on."
Accies are in cup action this weekend when they host Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the fourth round of the SPFL Trust Trophy. They then welcome the Caley Jags back to New Douglas Park the following Saturday on league business.
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