DUMBARTON manager Stevie Aitken is delighted to have clinched the signatures of Frazer Wright and Steven Ross last week as the deals look likely to end Sons’ recruitment until January.

Aitken had been working on deals to get in former St Johnstone and Kilmarnock defender Wright and former Ross County forward Ross for a number of weeks.

Wright left St Johnstone early last week only two months after signing a one year deal at the club. The 35-year-old decided to move from McDiarmid Park to play every week after facing competition from Tam Scobbie, Dave Mackay and summer signing Brad McKay. The veteran defender lifted the Scottish Cup with Saints in 2014.

Steven Ross spent last season on loan to Highland League side Brora Rangers before being released by Ross County. The 21-year-old was brought to Aitken’s attention by his chief scout Stuart Millar, who previously worked at the Dingwall club.

Dumbarton have come to an agreement with Ross which means he will train at County one night a week and with Sons another night as the forward lives in Dingwall.

Aitken said: “Steven Ross was one we have been working on for quite a bit, Stuart Millar who is our chief scout, worked at Ross County when George Adams was there. He knew the player so he started the ball rolling on that one.

“We followed up with meetings with the player and tried to sort out the logistics with him staying up in Dingwall. We have managed to come to an arrangment where he will train with us for one night and Ross County one of the nights. He is a bit behind in terms of fitness because he has missed a lot of pre-season, “He is different to what we have got and has a great turn of speed.

“Frazer is one we looked at in the summer but he obviously signed for St Johnstone for a year. But a couple of weeks into the season he felt it was right for him to move on and he has given us a phone and we got a deal done.

“We have a guy who has played 10 years in the SPL week in, week out, he’s played in Europe and won the Scottish Cup. He has bags of experience and I think that is going to be key in this division.” A consequence of Sons recent signings has been the departure of Andy Graham to Ayr United. Darren Miller and Gordon Smith were told to look for new clubs despite only moving to the Rock in the summer.

Miller has now left the club while Smith has moved on-loan to Cowdenbeath until January.

Aitken explained that with so many new faces arriving at Dumbarton over the summer, it was inevitable some wouldn’t work out.

He said: “It’s never easy. Andy is a great lad and wanted to play every week and I couldn’t give him that. The first two games he played he caused a couple of goals and that was down to him not playing regular, at his stage of career he wants to play every week. We thank him for his time at the club and the effort he gave me in the short time.”