Dumbarton have brought in their first fresh face for the new season as gaffer Stevie Aitken looks to build up a squad which can challenge for a Championship return.

Defender Willie Dyer has signed a one year-deal with Sons, bringing down the curtain on a three-season stint with Brechin City after rejecting boss Darren Dods’ offer to stay put at Glebe Park.

The 31-year-old, who began his career at St Johnstone, had three spells with Brechin and also played for Raith Rovers, Greenock Morton and Dundee - helping the latter clinch the Championship title in a tense 2-1 final day victory over Sons back in 2014.

He played one season with Dundee in the top flight and admits he is excited by the prospect of using his experience to help Dumbarton push for promotion next season.

Dyer said: “I spoke to the manager and with me being local as well it kind of made my mind up. It was done in a day. I stay in Drumchapel, so to go down the road I was happy with that.

“I heard what the manager had to say and he says it will be a strong Dumbarton side for next season, so I’m looking forward to it.

“It was easy (the decision). It’s going to be a hard league, but with the squad we’ve got I think we will be able to compete.

“With the boys he wants in, if he gets them I think we’ll be challenging anyway, that’s the main thing. We want to win it.”

Dyer has been drafted in following the departure of left-back Liam Dick, who made 17 appearances for the side since his arrival from Stranraer in January as an option to replace the injured Chris McLaughlin. The club are yet to make an announcement on the future of McLaughlin, after previously stating they were in discussions with the player subject to fitness.

Aitken said: “It was a position we had to fill. We were short at left back as Liam (Dick) indicated he wasn’t going to renew his contract, so we knew we had to go in for that position.

“We jumped on it right away and had a good chat with Willie. He’s an experienced defender, playing at a good level. Even last season at Brechin, a team which struggled, he showed up really well.

“He’s played at the top level and he’s played in the Premier League for Dundee. You can’t have enough experienced players in your team.

“Getting ones with experience last year worked really well, so it’s important we added to that again. We are delighted to sign him.

And the Sons gaffer insists the club are working hard behind the scenes to bolster the squad.

He added: “The problem was to get guys like Andy Dowie signed up and Kyle Hutton signed up. We have also agreed with other players, Stuart Carswell and Calum Gallagher. There are talks ongoing with a lot of players.

“We have still got a lot of players to sign. Going down a division, there have been a lot of changes at the club, a lot of players have moved on, so it’s a case of building the squad back up again, which we are keen to do.

“There’s a long way to go, but we’re working hard to build the squad back up, a squad that can hopefully challenge next season.

“There are plenty of offers out there and there’s been plenty of contact with players. It’s a waiting game to see what they say. There’s a a lot of work going on behind the scenes to get things right.”