Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has urged the club to capitalise on becoming debt free for the first time in more than 20 years.
The club has cleared £14.49million of debt thanks to an agreement with the bank, major shareholders Stewart Milne Group and Aberdeen Asset Management, and an investment from Dons supporters Willie Donald and his wife Elaine.
As a result of the restructuring of debt, which will be subject to shareholder approval at the annual meeting on December 15, the club is in its strongest financial position for decades and McInnes wants the Dons to strengthen the club’s place in Scottish football.
He said: “As a club clearing the debt has given us opportunity and a chance to push on.
“On the football side we are trying to be better and hopefully we can maximise the opportunity the investment now gives us.
“Everyone is keen on and sees the importance of having a new training facility. It’s the same with the stadium, everyone can see the benefits it would bring, but I’m not the first manager to sit here and say that, and it is up to other people at the club to make it happen.”
McInnes played his part in his first full season in charge, winning the League Cup, reaching the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup and finishing third in the Scottish Premiership in the previous campaign.
The Dons are well placed to repeat the success of last term as they are four points off the top of the table, in the semi-finals of the League Cup and about to begin their Scottish Cup involvement this weekend at Dundee.
The success helped boost turnover by £4million and McInnes believes the image the club is changing as the team shows consistency on the field.
He said: “This is a club which is ambitious and has security. It is also one building towards something and I hope that will make it easier to attract and keep players.
“Players sign for clubs for different reasons but keeping players is every bit as important.
“Aberdeen has always been an attractive proposition for players and the investment can only improve that perception for players.
“As a manager I want stability and support and I feel as if we have turned the club around in some ways but we are still restricted in others.
“For us it’s important to be working for a club which has ambition and wants to improve. I feel as though I’m working with good people who want to improve the standards.”