The experienced centre half — who only joined up with the squad on Friday — starred in the Sons’ weekend victory over relegation rivals Greenock Morton.

But despite helping Dumbarton to their first clean sheet in the league since October, which moved the team one step closer to securing its Championship status, he admitted Saturday’s win was a bitter sweet experience playing against his boyhood favourites.

McLaughlin told the Reporter: “I grew up supporting the club. The fans had a go at me, saying stuff at half-time, but I’ll go back to Greenock with my head held high.

“Dumbarton are my employers and I’ll go out there and do what I can to win a game for them and that’s the type of person I am.

“For me it’s a case of moving on with my career and working hard for Dumbarton, you know I’ll give my all for Dumbarton and that’s the most important thing for me.

“I’m away from there (Morton) now, I wish everybody at the club all the best, except when they play against Dumbarton.

“It’s a fresh start for me and building and helping Dumbarton get up the table is the most important thing for me.

“It doesn’t matter even if I go junior or amateur — I’m a winner and I just want to make sure the team I’m playing for wins.” The experienced defender also revealed how he was also attracted to Dumbarton by the club’s part-time status which allows him to continue his work with refurbishment company MLB Properties, with whom he has been working with for a year already, while still playing football.

He added: “I left Morton on good terms. I left by mutual consent, you know it worked better for me, I’m going to go full-time with my company and it’s good to be back playing football.” “I’m enjoying playing for Dumbarton. They’re a good bunch of boys and the club is run very professional for a part-time club — it’s really enjoyable.” Saturday’s win now leaves Dumbarton six points above the relegation zone with a crunch trip to Cowdenbeath scheduled for this weekend.

And McLaughlin is confident of getting a result which would put further distance between Dumbarton and the drop-zone.

He added: “When you go into every game you just want win. Next week is a hard game against Cowdenbeath, it is a big, big game. and if we can go there and get a point or three points it’d be massive.

“I enjoyed my debut but it’s one game and we need to build on that now.”