DUMBARTON will not participate in the SPFL’s development league next season after the club deemed it too costly.

The club will continue to run their squads below the under-20s but they will not have a team above the under-16/17 squad for next season.

In recent seasons, Sons have only seen striker Donald McCallum make the breakthrough from their youth set-up to the first team. He has managed 19 appearances over the last two seasons, four from the start.

Reporter Sport understands the club will look to loan players in the under-16/17 squad to lower league and junior clubs to provide a pathway to first-team football.

Alan Findlay, Dumbarton’s commercial director, insists it was not a decision the club took lightly.

He said: “It is with a very heavy heart that the club took this decision. The only reason for it is the cost associated with running the under-20s team.

“It is a significant amount with no outside funding going towards it and for Dumbarton it just wasn’t sustainable.

“I know the high level of work that went into the team from our staff, this isn’t a position we wanted to be in.

“We understand the concerns of the parents and players in our other youth squads. Discussions are ongoing and we hope the club can reassure them that there will be a proper pathway for the players to progress at Dumbarton.”

A statement on the club’s website said: "The board of Dumbarton FC has recently concluded a review of the youth structure at the club, in particular our under-20s development squad.

“With decreasing external funding and the significant resources required to comply with development league participation, Dumbarton FC has concluded that the finance necessary to operate a 20s team, which falls under the first-team budget, cannot be sustained.

“As a result, the club will not participate in the SPFL’s development league next season."

“The board would like to thank the football staff and players who have supported our development squad through the years.”