Recently there has been a lot going on at the club. Most importantly the announcement of the preferred bidder and soon to be new owner Mario Lapointe.
We sat down with Mario to discuss all things Dumbarton and put to him some of the main questions that have been on the minds of the fans and his initial goals for the club.
If you have any other questions please add them to the comments sections of our social media platforms and Mario or a representative from the club will come back to you.
Q. Why Dumbarton?
A. I’ve been searching for a team for about a year. I’ve looked in Spain, Portugal, Italy in Serie C, and a bit in France.
Like using a real estate agent, you rely on someone to find the right fit. I first came across Dumbarton around December or January, but it didn’t click at first, the administrators had other, wealthier suitors.
I came close with two English clubs, one was taken over by an American group, the other wasn’t sold in the end. Eventually, the administrators told me they had someone lined up, but when that fell through, I jumped back in.
The turning point for me was the GoFundMe, it showed real community backing. I later learned that out of 600 average attendees, 470 were season ticket holders. That’s rare. It shows a strong core fanbase, we just need to grow it.
Funny enough, in high school, I dated a Scottish girl from Glasgow and always loved the scenery here. Maybe that stuck with me.
Q. The Disneyland comment?
A. I believe I said, a Disney-like location, I didn’t mean I to turn it into Disneyland. I said a Disney-like location.
Q. Are we looking for a CVA or a Newco to exit administration?
A. Yes, it’s a Newco. That’s the only way the administrators set it up. It gives the club a clean slate, free from the issues of the past few years. I’m not involved in how the money is used to settle debts; I’m just the one putting up the funds.
Q. Any sanctions related to it being a Newco?
A. As far as I know, the only sanction we face is the five-point deduction, and that’s already tough enough. After everything this team went through last year, more punishment would just feel like kicking us while we’re down.
Q. Hopes for the club in the year ahead?
A. Our biggest gap is youth, in the stands and among volunteers. Most fans have supported the club for decades, but we’re missing those aged 15 to 25. That’s why I’ve pushed initiatives like prepaid season tickets for under-16s, with support from both Scots and Canadians, we have around 47 in total now.
The goal is to fill the stadium, balance the books, and, more importantly, build a younger fanbase to secure the club’s future. I see myself as just borrowing this team for a decade or two, then it’s someone else’s turn, someone more local. But for that to work, we need to start planting the seeds now.
Q. How do we combat local youths going to nearby clubs like Rangers and Celtic?
A. No disrespect to the big clubs like Rangers or Celtic, but if you miss a game there, no one really notices.
Here, you become part of the heart of the club, we know your name, you might even volunteer.
It’s a real community. Bring your kids and you’re not just making memories with them; you’re helping keep the club alive. It’s a deeper connection than just being a fan of a giant club.
Q. Concerns about the stadium footprint being sold off?
A. I haven’t bought all the surrounding land, just the stadium footprint. I can expand stands within that space, and I’m in talks about allowing a small part of the land to make walkway bridge across. But no, I’m not building housing.
My vision is for the stadium to be active year-round, used daily by the men’s team, women’s team, youth teams, and for music, comedy, festivals. It should be a true community hub, not just a weekend venue.
Q. For that to work will we be looking at an artificial pitch?
A. As a fan, I prefer natural grass — it’s how football should be played. But as a businessman aiming to get the team back on track, we need artificial turf. It’ll likely be installed by May 2026 to help fill the stadium and maximize use.
Q. Music Festival?
A. It’d be good to have a festival right at the end of the season that will give money to the team. And that money will go covering wages between the end of the season and the start of the next.
Because there’s a gap. There’s a gap of players that are still under contract. But there’s no Rock, there’s no football, there’s no revenue, there’s nothing.
We have that gap, and I think the way to fill it up is with a music festival.
Q. Stevie has mentioned we have a lower budget than last year; can you go into more detail on this?
A. Yeah, we can only turn five or six guys from last year’s team to come with us. There are some guys that he really wanted to keep but the situation we’re in just made that impossible.
It’s the business of sport, right? If you get if you get people in the stands, you get sponsors. You get sponsors, you get wages, and you get talent on the field and so on.
It’s the vicious cycle of football or any sport.
Q. Canadian/US players coming in?
A. We will be bringing in players from the US and Canada with dual citizenship or local roots, for trials, we will be providing lodging and a chance to prove themselves.
We’re facing adversity with one of the smallest budgets in the league, but Stevie, as manager has final say on the squad. If sponsors or more supporters coming through the gates, we’ll boost the budget later. But, for now, we must balance the books
Q. What is your message to these younger fans ahead of the new season?
A. My message is simple: chant, drum, support however you like, but if you light a flare, you’re out.
The reason is financial. Flares can lead to hefty fines, thousands of pounds that could go toward player wages instead. Big clubs might absorb those costs, but we can’t. It hurts the community and the club.
Please have the respect for the Crest. Please have the respect for the community. And come and cheer on your team.
Q. You mentioned an app, what features will be on this app?
A. First and foremost, no betting, I don’t like the amount of betting shown in football. I want fans who really know football to get involved, it’s not just trivia, but something to spark interest and friendly bragging. The crowd will vote for the player of the game, and the top players will stay after to sign autographs and chat.
We also want former players to act as ambassadors and help build a stronger connection between the club and fans.
Q. Message for the fans?
A. Exceptional things are achieved by exceptional people, and we need more of them. If you can afford a season ticket, adding just £30 to support an under-16 ticket helps us double our crowds. That support makes a huge difference.
There will be a live Q&A at some point in future should we get enough responses.