FORMER Dumbarton and Inverness Caley Thistle striker Bryan Prunty says it’s a tight call, but he’s backing the Sons for Saturday’s Challenge Cup final between two of his former clubs.

Prunty made 122 appearances for Dumbarton, scoring 37 times from 2011 until 2014, and helping Sons secure their promotion to Scotland’s second tier in his first season at the club.

But he also played for Sons’ opponents this weekend, Caley Thistle, when they were in the Premiership back in 2004-5.

And while he enjoyed his time at both teams, he’s going to be backing Dumbarton in Saturday’s final.

He said: “It’s difficult, and I don’t want to sit on the fence as I had such a good time at both.

“But the memories I’m holding in the highest regard are with the Dumbarton fans.

“I’ll be forever thankful for the way they’ve treated me and treated me till until this day.

“I don’t want to pick sides but if I have to pick it’ll be Dumbarton.”

Prunty was brought in by Alan Adamson back in 2011, and hit the ground running, scoring 15 goals that season, including four against East Fife.

He said: “We started the season pretty slow. There were a lot of new signings and it took a bit of time for them to gel, but it was the determination, there was no stopping us from to reach the goal to get promoted.

“It was fantastic. It’s not a huge place as everyone knows and it was huge for the whole time.

“He [Adamson] was fantastic. He was an old school type of manager, he let you get on with your job and he let you express yourself and the players really liked him and how he just let us get on with our jobs. That was the reason we were so successful – he let us do our thing, and I think it worked.”

But in the part-timers found their start to life in the Championship tough, with Adamson being sacked by the club in October 2012.

Ian Murray came in, and completely turned the side round as they finished seventh in their first season in Scotland’s second tier, and were fifth in the following season, their highest since being back in the Championship.

Prunty added: “Ian Murray came in and it was his first job, he wanted to hit the ground running and I think he did that to be fair.

“He brought in a few of his own players as well and took us to the next level, he really did and there was some good football being played in a tough league, make no mistake about it, it was a really tough division.

“But he got results, he did well, and ultimately ended up getting a move through good results.”

His three years are well remembered by Sons fans, scoring one of Dumbarton’s best goals in recent memory, a specular overhead volley against Livingston in 2013.

He said: “I still get a lot of messages to this day from the fans, I had a brilliant time with them when I got promoted to the Championship, they were exciting times as well because they it was pretty much a full new team and it took a bit of time to settle, but it was fantastic memories, ones that can’t get taken away from you. I had a great time at Dumbarton there with my three years, and it will live with me forever, it was absolutely fantastic.”

Prunty now plies his trade in the Lowland League with East Kilbride, who are six points clear at the top of the table, as they look to reach promotion to League Two.

And the forward is enjoying life with Kilby.

He added: “At this stage in my career it was probably what I needed, just to get playing. Billy Stark {[East Kilbride manager] phoned me and asked me if I wanted to come down and be part of things and get some more game-time.

“I had no hesitation going there and to be honest it’s a bold statement, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

“It’s been absolutely brilliant, I still feel good at 35, I’ve looked after myself and long may it continue.

“It’s probably because I’m part of a good team as well, I know I’ve come in during the later part of the season but we’re sitting pretty at the top.

“It always helps if you’re joining a good team and I see the plans in process in terms of the club off the field, it’s been great to be a part of it and using my experience to help them be successful towards the end of the season.”