Stevie Aitken is hoping to bring in three new faces before the league campaign kicks off.

The Dumbarton manager is looking to secure three loan signings before the first game away to Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday, August 6.

Aitken confirmed the loans would all be from Scottish Premiership sides, but would not be drawn to naming players.

And he was hoping to bring in one of the signings by early next week, and then the following two the next week.

He said: “We're looking to bring in a defender, a midfielder and a striker, all on loan deals.

“It's from club's that have got good reputations for producing younger players.

“We've got good contacts and the managers have been great and we just have to be patient, but within the next week or so it will all come together, and by the first league game the squad should be complete.

“We're hoping one will be in by the beginning of next week, Monday - Tuesday the latest and the other two depending on what goes on but certainly we'll have one by next week.”

The Sons boss said that their transfer policy will not be affected by any potential legal movements by Annan Athletic.

This comes after the Reporter Sport revealed that Annan had raised his concerns to the SPFL over the transfer of Josh Todd to Dumbarton.

The Dumbarton manager added: “We've signed him by the letter of the law, we've not done anything wrong.

“They (Annan) are going about business their way, we've checked everything, and double checked it and what we have done and what we can do.

“If there's something that the league sees differently, then we will just have to wait and see but certainly what we have done is correct, and there is nothing wrong at all.”

Aitken also gave injury updates on several players, with Frazer Wright returning to fitness and Jamie Ewings and Darren Barr are hoped to be back and ready for first game against Dunfermline.

He said: “Not on the playing side, Darren Barr is making progress as indeed is Jamie Ewings, Frazer Wright will be available back to play.

“But by the first league game we should have at least three new additions and then Darren and Jamie so you're talking about five players that we've not been able to use for the first league game.”