Sunday 6th June 2021
STEVIE FARRELL has multiplied the size of his Dumbarton squad by seven this week – but won’t be jumping into further activity for the sake of it.
The Sons gaffer has restored Conner Duthie and Stuart Carswell to his player pool, as well as recruiting Andy Geggan, Pat Boyle, Eoghan Stokes and Callum Erskine. Ryan McGeever was already on the books.
But it has also been a busy time in terms of players going out, with Sam Wardrop, Rico Quitongo, Morgyn Neill, Adam Frizzell and Jaime Wilson all declining offers made to them this week.
It’s been a busy time in terms of transfer activity and it is set to continue, with further additions verbally agreed.
Stevie also underlined the importance of patience in building a squad for the new season, which is now just over a month away.
He also said that the club’s desire to have new players playing for Dumbarton must be returned by the players themselves.
Speaking to www.dumbartonfootballclub.com, the manager said: “Considering that when we came into the job a week ago, we had one player signed, it’s definitely progress.
“One thing I will not do is rush into things. We have certain targets who we are working away at, we get offered players every day and I could sign a raft of players tomorrow, but they wouldn’t be the right players.
“We need to avoid jumping in. Time was always going to be tight for us and we have to ensure we stick to our plan and are patient.
“I am sorry to see any player go. We offered those players what we offered them but they have made the decision to move on and I wish them all the best.
“They are now with other clubs and we have to get players who want to play for Dumbarton. We need to ensure they want to play for the club – that’s the dressing room we’re trying to build and get the balance right.
“Last year, looking at the squad, I feel Dumbarton lacked a bit of experience with people who had won things in the game.
“Old heads like Andy Geggan and Pat Boyle were the first two targets, to get real experience and winners in the dressing room.
“Stuart Carswell is similar – a big character, and we’ve signed some younger players who I’ve had my eye on since I came to the club.
“We are working through a list. We’ve been in talks with more players this weekend and we have verbal agreements with another two, whose details we will release when the deals are completed.”
It is expected to be the later part of the coming week before any further contracts can be formally signed.
Stevie is also now less than five weeks away from his competitive debut as Sons manager, in the Premier Sports Cup group stage, which will take place in quite fitting circumstances.
His first two games in the post will be at home to the two senior clubs he served as a player – St Mirren on Saturday, July 10, and Stenhousemuir three days later.
Away trips to Dunfermline Athletic and Partick Thistle will follow, and although demanding on paper, it’s a challenge Stevie looks forward to taking on.
He added: “At the start of my last tenure with Dumbarton (as assistant to Stevie Aitken) we beat St Mirren early in the season. That was a successful day and hopefully it can happen again.
“I think we’ve got a very good draw, very competitive. I like the League Cup format and I like the difficult games in it as they get you ready for the league.
“We’re looking forward to it – we’ve got some good games in there.”
Andy Galloway