A HELENSBURGH solicitor will take over as Dumbarton Football Club’s new chairman at the end of the season.

John Steele, who has had a long time behind-the-scenes role as an associate director of the Sons, will be leading a reshaped club board. The changes are in the process of being put together with the assistance of current chairman Les Hope, as the club fights hard to maintain its elevated place in the SPFL Championship.

Mr Steele, whose appointment was announced this week, will seek to guide the club through the next phase of its development, which includes big decisions about the future on and off the pitch following the recent rejection of the club’s plans to relocate to Young’s Farm at the west end of Dumbarton.

“There are undoubtedly major challenges ahead for the club,“ said Mr Steele. “We will all have to pull together to face those.

“That’s just what we will do. We have great fans, a fine relationship with the supporters trust, strengthened links with the owners, and a commitment to the kind of teamworking which can build on our success in the Irn-Bru Cup and six incredible seasons in the second tier of Scottish professional football.”

Mr Steele added: “We would all like to pay particular tribute to our current chairman Les Hope and his predecessor Alan Jardine for the hard work which has laid the foundations for where we are now. Without their endeavour and financial support this would not have been possible.“Whatever happens at the end of this season, Dumbarton is club on the move and we are especially determined to become an even more important, positive feature of local community life in the coming months and years.”