The transfer of Josh Todd to Dumbarton has been reported to the SPFL, the Reporter understands.

The attacking midfielder has signed an amateur contract with the Sons – which means his previous club Annan Athletic will not be due any compensation.

As Annan offered Todd a contract and he is under the age of 23, any club looking to sign him on a professional contract would have to pay compensation.

Annan Athletic chairman Henry McClelland is seeking legal advice over Dumbarton’s signing of midfielder Josh Todd.

McClelland said to Reporter Sport: “On behalf of Annan Athletic I’ll be raising our concerns with the SPFL and we’ll take it from there. I will be raising concerns with the SPFL board regarding the circumstances in which Dumbarton have signed Josh Todd.

“Nobody [from Dumbarton FC] has had the courtesy to speak to myself or anyone at Annan Athletic. There was never any contact with Dumbarton directly with us.

“I’m taking legal advice today (Monday). There’s been no compensation discussions.”

Todd, 22, has been with the Galabankies since 2013, first having a loan spell with the club before joining permanently with Athletic in 2014.

Last season the attacking midfielder scored 18 goals in 38 appearances, with the League Two side just missing out on a play-off spot on the last day of the season.

Stewart MacGregor, managing director of Ark Sports, the agency representing Todd said: “With the amateur contract all he gets is expenses, petrol money, he doesn’t get a salary. He’s on that for the whole year, at the end of that he’d be a free agent.

"Dumbarton basically said we can sign Josh Todd, we want him at the football club but it can only happen on those terms as we don’t have the budget – and then it was a decision for the player.

"The main thing for Josh is he gets to play his football, but It was a choice I think it came down to signing as an amateur for Dumbarton, going back to Annan which he wasn’t keen on or spend a year without a football club.”

Dumbarton Chairman Alan Jardine said: “The SPFL are looking into the set up and until we hear from them officially there is absolutely no way we can comment in any shape size or form, I can't say any more than that.”

The SPFL have been contacted and we are awaiting a response from them.

Adam Thomas