We are delighted to announce the signing of Morgyn Neill on a two-year deal.
Morgyn returns to Dumbarton from Alloa Athletic on a free transfer, having been part of the side that won the League One play-offs in 2020/21. The defender scored the third goal in a 3-1 win away to Edinburgh City in the first leg of the play-off final, ensuring the Sons retained their place in the third tier for the 2021/22 season.
After coming through the academy at Motherwell, he played for Ayr United, Livingston, and Stenhousemuir, and worked under Stevie Farrell at Stranraer before his first stint at the Rock. He then enjoyed spells with Cove Rangers and Alloa before returning this summer.
Morgyn said the chance to return, along with the opportunity to reunite with his former manager, were the key reasons for his decision.
He said: “The biggest factor for me was the manager. He’s somebody I trust and have worked with before.
“I’ve always kept in touch with the gaffer, but I’ve also always felt that Dumbarton, for me, is home.
“When I left, I think I left on the best terms, scoring the third goal in the play-offs.
“At the time, the move to Cove felt right, we won the league, and I picked up a few individual awards, but this felt like the right time to come back.”
The gaffer also shared his thoughts on securing his first new signing of the summer.
He said: “We don’t want to look back, last season is gone now, and we need to look forward to the League Two campaign.
“Morgyn is someone I’ve worked with before, and I’ve tried to get him in a few times already, so I’m delighted to bring him in.
“It’s going to be a big season, starting on -5, and we need the right characters in the dressing room who can handle that. Morgyn is certainly a big character.
“We know what League Two is like. We’ve been here before and been successful. We need to build structure through the team, particularly through the central areas, and to have Mark and Morgyn is a perfect way to start that.”
The gaffer also touched on his budget and aims for the season ahead.
“The budget has been cut considerably, but I don’t mind that. The owner has been honest from day one.
“We’re probably working with one of the lower budgets in the league now, but that doesn’t stop our aspirations. We know that if we can build a squad that understands this league, we can go and compete.
“First of all, we need to wipe out that -5, and then it’s about looking up, catching who we can catch, and I believe we can have a really decent season.”