Dumbarton shaping up nicely ahead of Ladbrokes League 1 campaign
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Last season ended on a low note for Dumbarton, with relegation from the Ladbrokes Championship. But the Sons have made a trio of impressive additions already this summer, in their bid to bounce back at the first time of asking.
So, who’s in and what will they add to Stevie Aitken’s squad?
Rory Loy is probably the biggest name of the bunch. The former Dundee hitman is certainly a coup for the third-tier club.
Last season wasn’t the 30-year-old’s best, but his track record remains impressive. This is a guy who chalked up 37 goals in 91 Championship games before last season, and was a Premiership regular at Dens Park less than two years ago.
Another former Prem regular is Ross Forbes. The 29-year-old got his first crack at regular football in 2009 during a loan spell with – you guessed it! – Dumbarton.
The powerful Glaswegian went on to play 71 top-flight games, firstly with Motherwell and then Partick Thistle. However, it’s his experience as part of Greenock Morton’s League 1 title-winning side in 2015 which could prove most valuable.
A man for the big occasion, few goals in Morton’s narrow title triumph were as important as his 92nd minute winner against Ayr United.
The other new man at The C&G System Stadium is Cammy Ballantyne. The 21-year-old defender arrives from Dundee United, but spent last season on loan at Montrose.
A key part of the Gable Endies’ title-winning League 2 side, the 21-year-old offers pace, creativity and a genuine goal threat on the right flank. He chalked up three goals and five assists in 32 games for Montrose last term.
However, the biggest success this summer has probably been holding onto Aitken.
He did impressive work in securing Championship survival in his first two seasons with the club. And the 40-year-old nearly won League 1 with much smaller resources in his previous gig – as Stranraer boss.
It seems unlikely Dumbarton will be hanging around in the third-tier for too long.
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