DUMBARTON assistant boss Stevie Farrell is delighted with Sons’ signings in the last week as their squad for next season takes shape.

With manager Stevie Aitken on holiday, Farrell was the man to oversee the arrival of two new signings and three players extended their stays at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium, while Sons defenders Darren Barr and Gregor Buchanan are expected to sign this week.

Winger Andy Stirling and defender Craig Pettigrew have arrived from Stranraer, and having worked with the pair at Stair Park, Farrell is convinced they will both be valuable additions.

He said: “When you’ve worked with players before you know their strengths and weaknesses, there is a trust already there because you’ve built a relationship.

“Since Willie Gibson left we’ve probably lacked a natural wide player who gets at people and drops the shoulder, Andrew will give us that. He can play central but we see him as a wide player.

“He is someone we would’ve probably brought in last year had we not signed him for Stranraer. We are delighted to get him on board I think he is a player who could excite the fans.

“Craig Pettigrew can play anywhere across the back four but we’ve signed him as a right back. He’s very good on the ball and can defend as well, he is quick as well.”

From last season’s squad Garry Fleming, Frazer Wright and Grant Gallagher are staying after signing one-year deals.

Farrell expects Sons' player of the year Fleming to be a key man once again next year. He admitted that 36-year-old Wright might have to be carefully managed through next season but after a solid debut year at Sons, the assistant boss believes his experience will be invaluable once again.

Farrell came out in defence of Grant Gallagher, who he thinks was harshly judged for some below-par performances when he was playing through the pain barrier.

The midfielder started last season in good form but tailed off, however, Farrell expects the 25-year-old to prove the doubters wrong next season.

He said: “Goals from Garry Fleming along with Christian Nade were crucial for keeping us in the division. Garry is somebody we enjoy working with and he was really important for us last year.

“Frazer Wright came in last summer and the experience he has of playing in the Premier League showed straight away.

"We’ll manage Frazer correctly in terms of the number of games he plays throughout the year, but we believe he has another good season left in him because he is in good condition.

“I think Grant got a bit of a bad press last year, he probably didn’t show the player he is capable of being. When he was fit at the start of the season he played very well.

“He picked up a couple of niggling injuries and just couldn’t get himself going again. We’re confident, having worked with Grant, if he stays clear of injuries we can get the best out of him this year.

“He was probably doing himself a disservice at times last year by being loyal to us and trying to play when he wasn’t 100 per cent fit.”

“Disappointment is the key word. We were really looking forward to a regionalised League Cup section that would have been logistically good for us and give us some really competitive games.

“It is now probably going to become a bit of a nightmare for us. We could end up travelling distances that are just unacceptable for a part-time club.

“I think at times there is a complete ignorance that over half of the clubs in this country are part-time. There is an ignorance from the decision makers to that fact.

“It’s fine as a full-time club if you’re travelling 300 miles in a day in a round trip or having overnight accommodation either the night before or after the game.

“But we don’t have that luxury, both financially and because our players have day jobs to go to.”