DUMBARTON manager Stevie Aitken has admitted he is resigned to losing Steven Saunders and Christian Nade.

The pair have been offered contracts to remain at the Sons but they have told Aitken they want go to a full-time club.

Despite neither having signed elsewhere as of yet, Aitken is planning to go into next season without them.

Meanwhile the Sons boss expects centre back Gregor Buchanan to sign a contract at the club today (Friday) and young striker Donald McCallum to follow in the coming days.

Talks with Mark Docherty are on hold as the defender is on his honeymoon.

Aitken said: "Gregor Buchanan will sign today. I spoke to Donald McCallum's agent the other day and that should be tied up in the next couple of days. Mark Docherty is on his honeymoon at the moment.

"Steven Saunders was down in Wales talking to the team that Jon Routledge went to (The New Saints FC), we offered him a contract a few weeks ago but it's stalled a bit and it looks likely that he will move on.

"I think the Christian Nade deal is dead, we offered him a contract and he said he wanted to go full-time. We've moved away form that and are speaking to other players in that position, it is highly unlikely that we'll see Christian back.

"We're not going to sit and wait for something that isn't going to happen. If they've not got something in a few weeks time it would depend how we were sitting. The likelihood is we'll have our squad tied up by then so we're moving ahead."

For more Sons transfer news pick up next week's Dumbarton Reporter.