MARK McLAUGHLIN claims Dundee are odds-on to win the First Division title.

The 37-year-old, who signed a new one-year deal with Morton earlier this summer, will be a key component of Allan Moore's side as the Ton bid to put behind them the heartache of losing out on the First Division title to Partick Thistle.

But the Morton stalwart has seen Cappielow hitman Peter MacDonald and highly rated left-back Willie Dyer move to Dens Park.

And with former Scotland and Rangers' midfielder Gavin Rae also having relocated to the Dee, McLaughlin says John Brown's men will be the team to beat this time around.

However the defender believes the second promotion place available in the advent of reconstruction to the SPFL could prove a silver lining for the Greenock club.

McLaughlin said: "Dundee seem to be splashing the cash.

"They have taken Peter MacDonald and Willie Dyer from us and that would strengthen any First Division side.

"Peaso missed the start of last season through injury but still scored 15 times in just over 20 games.

"As for Willie Dyer, I have no doubt he was the best left-back in the First Division last season and will be a great signing for them.

"Add Gavin Rae to that, and I see my old pal Jim McAllister has also re-signed, and Dundee are looking ominously strong.

"It would be stupid to say they are anything other than favourites."

McLaughlin has no doubt the addition of a play-off place will breathe new life into the second tier season.

He said: "I have said it was madness there was only one promotion place from the First Division.

"I think we must have been the only league in Europe in which that was the case and if anyone had listened to the players it would not have been the case.

"I look back at last season when the First Division title was largely between us and Thistle.

"But if there had been another place up for grabs via a play-off slot, I think it would have been a lot tighter with the pursuing pack.

"Now there is the second promotion place then teams like ourselves and maybe the likes of Hamilton, and Queen of the South will think there is a chance."

On top of the loss of MacDonald and Dyer the summer departures of Kevin Rutkiewicz and Jordan Halsman to the USA and Iceland respectively and the release of David Graham, Martin Hardie, David Hutton, Colin McMenamin, Kyle Wilkie and Peter Weatherson has meant a summer of wide-scale change at Cappielow.

But McLaughlin remains confident Ton boss Moore will rebuild a title-challenging squad

He said: "The gaffer will wheel and deal as only he can. I am sure we will have a squad together that has the right blend of youth and experience by the start of pre-season that will be more than capable of mounting a challenge.