The time is now

DARIAN MacKinnon thought his Premiership dreams were minutes away from dying.

As it turned out, they were kept alive by a matter of seconds.

And less than an hour later, the Dumbarton man was celebrating promotion to the top flight of Scottish football with Hamilton Accies.

The 26-year-old had completed a journey from the mud and glory of amateur football to the prestige of the country’s highest division.

Accies won their two-legged play-off with Hibernian on Sunday, levelling a 2-0 first leg deficit in the third minute of injury time.

But courtesy of a dodgy scoreboard, Darian and his mates thought there were still a few minutes left.

He spent the last World Cup moving from amateur to junior football, switching from Dumbarton outfit St Patrick’s FP to Clydebank.

Now the boyhood Celtic fan will watch this summer’s action in Brazil looking forward to possibly running out at the Hoops’ Parkhead ground.

Darian told The Dumbarton Terrace: “It’s not really sunk in yet but it just feels good and I’m happy to have done it. I can’t wait for the fixtures to come out.

“It was a great day with the way it finished, with us scoring in the last minute and winning on penalties in front of a full house. It’s a fairytale ending for me and the club.

“Not many people will have gone from amateur football to the top flight. I’ve gone from playing for St Pat’s as recently as 2010 to possibly running out at Celtic Park next season.

“We did wonder if it was going to happen on Sunday – but the scoreboard at Easter Road is wrong by about four or five minutes, so we didn’t know it was so late.

“When I looked up at the scoreboard after the equaliser it said 87 minutes. We knew it was getting towards full time but didn’t realise it was that late!

“The next best thing to playing for Celtic is to go to Parkhead with another team. I’ll train over pre-season and it’s up to the manager if I play.”

After two highly successful years at Clydebank, Darian made the step up to senior level with Hamilton in 2012, but was initially sent out on loan to Ayr United.

Having adjusted to life in the senior ranks at Somerset Park, he returned to Accies and made a great impression – beginning with a fixture against his hometown club.

He continued: “When I first went to Hamilton I was off the pace and going to Ayr taught me the speed of the game, even though it was a division lower.

“The turning point for me after I returned to Accies was a Scottish Cup tie at Dumbarton, which we won 3-1. Stevie May was cup-tied and I came into the team.”

Darian was missing through suspension when Hamilton lost 4-1 at the Rock in the sides’ last meeting of the season in April.

The result ultimately condemned Accies to the play-offs despite a 10-2 win over Morton on the last day. Dundee, who overtook Hamilton into top spot, beat Sons to clinch the title.

But Darian said: “We thought there was a chance for Dumbarton to do us a favour and take points off Dundee on the last day to give us the title – which they very nearly did.

“We never lost heart because the manager, Alex Neil, won’t let us do that. He is always positive and we felt that we would be OK in the play-offs.

“No disrespect to the Championship but some grounds aren’t the best and the crowds are smaller. Now we have the chance to play in front of bigger crowds and that makes you want to play better.

“Our target will just be consolidation. We’ve not got the biggest budget in next season’s Premiership and to stay in the league is our first aim.

“If we do that it will be another great achievement.”

And Darian reckons that his journey from Posties to, potentially, Parkhead sends out a message that there are untapped diamonds in the amateur and junior ranks.

He added: “I was lucky for Hamilton to take a chance on me. I’ve done it myself and there are others out there who can make it if they get the chance.

“If you don’t do it the first time there’s always another way in. It’s up to them to take it.”

Last time out…some time ago

ALL 36 of Dumbarton’s league fixtures are ones to relish when they are announced on Wednesday, June 18.

But three of them won’t just be ones that give the club huge recognition. They will also end a long wait.

Because the three clubs Sons have gone the longest without playing a competitive match are…? Hibernian, Rangers and Hearts. All of whom will be in next season’s Championship.

The Easter Road club, relegated after a play-off defeat to Hamilton Accies last week, are the team Sons have gone the longest without playing on competitive duty.

They did meet at the Rock in pre-season last year, when Ally McKerracher’s goal earned Sons a 1-1 draw after Alex Harris opened the scoring for the visitors.

However, not since a Scottish Cup third round replay at Easter Road in February 1988 have the sides clashed with league points or cup progress at stake.

That night Hibs were 3-0 winners, three days after being held to a 0-0 draw in the initial tie at Boghead Park. Neil Orr, Joe Tortolano and an own goal sealed their progress.

Six years later, also in the Scottish Cup third round, came what to this day is Sons’ previous meeting with Rangers. They were beaten 4-1 at Ibrox despite a penalty by Martin Mooney, as goals by Gordon Durie, Mark Hateley, Trevor Steven and David Robertson put the Gers through.

That tie, in January 1994, was Sons’ second visit to Ibrox that season, having also lost 1-0 there in the League Cup five months earlier to an Ian Ferguson goal.

Rangers’ last match in Dumbarton was in December 1984, when they were 4-2 winners at Boghead Park in a Premier Division encounter. Sons were the ‘home’ team when the sides met in the League Cup in August 1992, but the tie was played at Hampden and won 5-0 by Rangers.

The year of 1994 was also the last time Hearts were in opposition to Sons, when they comfortably won 4-0 at Boghead Park in a League Cup second round tie in August. Kilmarnock boss Allan Johnston hit a double after John Millar and then John Robertson put them in control.

However, the Jambos’ Tynecastle Park is the ground Dumbarton have gone the longest without visiting. They last played there in January 1985, going down to a 5-1 defeat in a Premier Division match.

Unsurprisingly, most of the top 10 teams who Sons have waited the longest to play are sides well-established with Scotland’s top flight.

But there’s a surprise name among them. Queen’s Park have not been in opposition since the final day of the 2006/07 season, when they won 2-1 at the Rock en route to winning promotion.

Two years later, they were relegated as Sons won the Third Division title. Together with the presences of the Old Firm in the top ten, Sons’ only visits to Glasgow since 2007 have been to play Partick Thistle.

And the team who, this time next year, Dumbarton will have gone the longest without facing – pending cup draws?

Kilmarnock, who they last played in August 1995, going down 1-0 at Rugby Park in a League Cup second round tie.

That season was also the last time they met Scottish Cup winners St Johnstone, in March 1996. They lost 3-0 at Boghead Park, a week after relegation to the Second Division was confirmed.

Maybe next year.

 

It’s been a while – the 10 teams Sons have gone the longest without playing

Hibernian: Wednesday, February 2 1988 – lost 0-3 (A).

Rangers: Saturday, January 29 1994 – lost 1-4 (A).

Hearts: Tuesday, August 16 1994 – lost 0-4 (H).

Kilmarnock: Saturday, August 19 1995 – lost 0-1 (A).

St Johnstone: Saturday, March 23 1996 – lost 0-3 (H).

Motherwell: Tuesday, January 27 1998 – lost 0-1 (A).

Inverness CT: Wednesday, August 23 2006 – lost 1-3 (A). Note – Inverness CT have never played Sons in Dumbarton.

Celtic: Saturday, January 6 2007 – lost 0-4 (A).

Queen’s Park: Saturday, April 28 2007 – lost 1-2 (H).

St Mirren: Tuesday, August 26 2008 – lost 0-7 (A).

Exclusive: “Delighted to stay”

HE’S staying.

And Ian Murray hopes that with his future committed to Dumbarton, the same will happen with many of his players soon.

The Sons gaffer, who agreed a new two-year deal with the club today, revealed that some of the squad that achieved a top half finish last season could soon put pen to paper themselves.

Ian’s new contract was clinched 24 hours after he was heavily linked with the vacancy at St Mirren created by the departure of Danny Lennon.

But the boss revealed that there had been no contact from the Paisley club – and is now raring to go for another season in the SPFL Championship.

Speaking EXCLUSIVELY to The Dumbarton Terrace, Ian said:  “We are good to go and I would imagine that there will be a few players in the next 48 hours who will come in and sign.

“There are still some who are may be undecided but the play-offs aren’t finished yet and some teams’ fates have yet to be clarified.

“We have a great relationship with the players and trust them fully.

“There may be some changes to the squad, but not a lot, as the squad did so well for us last season. People will have their opinions but we had that this time last year.

“I can’t wait to get started with pre-season and for the players to come back refreshed, re-invigorated and ready to go.

“It took longer than we wanted but we got there in the end and we are ready to kick on again. I’m delighted to stay.

“It just felt like the right thing to do. I am very happy where I am and I’m not going to lose too much sleep over anything.

“There was no contact from St Mirren. They couldn’t come to me directly as I was still contracted to Dumbarton, but if they had approached the club I’m sure I would have known about it.

“I knew that if Danny left then I would be liked with the job but I can’t control what people think. If St Mirren want me, they want me and if they don’t, they don’t.

“I’m focused on building for next season.”

Right back Paul McGinn and striker Mitch Megginson are two players who have been linked with moves to a higher level as a result of their successes last season.

But Ian added: “We are in dialogue with them all the time and there are offers on the table for them.

“If we think a move elsewhere is the right one or wrong one for them then we will advise them as such. If they do choose to move on it will be only for footballing reasons.

“They are exceptional players at our level and we hope they will make the right decision.

“The plan is that with myself now committed to the club, the players will follow.

“The board can’t put all their eggs in one basket. If we have 15 players re-signed and a new manager doesn’t want them, then that makes it difficult.

“I understand that the players are champing at the bit to come back in and hopefully they will now do that.”

Ian is relishing the prospect of taking on Rangers and Hearts in Scotland’s second tier next season – with possibly another big name to follow.

But there could yet be another big name in the division – one which is close to the gaffer’s heart.

If his boyhood team Hibernian lose next week’s two-legged play-off against either Hamilton Accies or Falkirk, they too will be in league opposition to Sons next season.

The manager continued: “The league line-up is certainly a bonus for us as there will be some big games – although they will be difficult games.

“Hibs’ situation is a tough one for me. As a boyhood fan of theirs I would want them to stay up but I look out for Dumbarton.

“For the players and myself, Hibs playing in the Championship would mean more exposure for the league and possibly more TV games.

“If I was Hibs manager I’d be saying exactly the opposite.

“But it’s going to be a heck of a league next season.”

Editorial: He’s staying

WITHIN seconds of first meeting Ian Murray, you know what sort of manager you’re in the company of.

One who is articulate, knowledgeable about football, and is ambitious.

And, very much reflecting Ian Murray the player, a man who likes a challenge.

Which is why there’s no great surprise in the Dumbarton gaffer agreeing his new two-year deal with the club today.

Be in no doubt – he’s given himself the opportunity to be a target for teams in a higher division than Sons, so successful has he been since his arrival at the club in November 2012.

Even 24 hours ago, news was breaking that St Mirren weren’t renewing Danny Lennon’s contract as manager. No prizes for guessing who’d be linked with the Paisley vacancy.

But if Murray is looking for a challenge that will push him as a manager, he’s done the right thing.

He’s stuck with the club with whom he has already achieved so much.

Because the challenge that awaits Dumbarton this season is going to be different from the one he’s not only completed, but blitzed through.

Sons have just finished in the Championship’s top half, finishing above full-timers Livingston, Raith Rovers and Morton.

The last of those sides won’t be in the division next season. Neither will champions Dundee, and one of Falkirk or Hamilton may also depart.

However, instead of those teams, throw in Rangers and Hearts. And possibly Hibernian, the club Murray served with such distinction as a player over two spells.

Fancy trying to follow up your success in the 2013/14 season by matching the finish in that sort of division? Someone does.

Contrast that with what Murray could have taken on at St Mirren, or most other top flight teams should a vacancy arise.

Unless there is significant investment in any one of 11 Scottish Premiership teams, Celtic will surely win their third consecutive title next season.

The top flight has lost the Edinburgh derby and, as many have acknowledged already, interest in the Championship may well be higher.

Had Murray chosen to advance his CV by moving to a Premiership side, he would have owed Dumbarton nothing. He would have gone with everyone’s best wishes.

But he was always going to be aware of the opportunities that were available in charge of Sons next season. Chances that could make him an even bigger catch as a manager.

His move to higher-profile management WILL come. However, the chance to manage a part-time team in a division containing some of Scotland’s best-known sides may not be there again for some time. It’s a challenge on which football men like Murray thrive.

And now Dumbarton, after 10 days of waiting, and with their manager’s future secured, can loudly ask for that challenge to be brought on.

More reaction to Ian Murray’s new deal to follow.

Chris looks forward to a break

CHRIS Turner made an inspired decision to stay with Dumbarton last close season. It turned out to help him avoid relegation.

Now, 12 months on, he hopes manager Ian Murray can become Sons’ biggest signing of summer 2014, with some key players to follow.

The midfielder is already a signed Dumbarton player for the 2014/15 campaign, along with wide man Jordan Kirkpatrick.

His two-year deal, signed last summer, was clinched after he rejected advances from Morton – who ended up relegated to League One.

And after a break over this close season, Chris is looking forward to doing it all again.

However, he hopes it will still be with Murray in charge, and with several of last season’s key players staying on.

He said: “I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great league to play in with the teams that are coming into it.

“But at the moment I’m just looking forward to a break and the chance to put my feet up for a couple of weeks.

“Hopefully the manager can get his future sorted out and he can get a few of the boys signed up.

“He’s going to be out of contract but he’s done really well since he came in. He’s going to attract a bit of attention through his success but that’s natural.

“Things will get sorted out and hopefully he will sign a new deal.”

As a boyhood Rangers fan, Chris is already relishing the prospect of playing at Ibrox in a Sons jersey next season.

But the trips to Govan could be just two of several occasions where Dumbarton play in front of a big crowd.

Hearts have already come down from the Premiership and there is the very real possibility of their Edinburgh rivals, Hibernian, joining them in dropping to the second tier.

The Easter Road side will play off next week against either Falkirk or Hamilton Accies, with the loser over two legs joining next season’s Championship line-up.

However, Chris isn’t daunted by the prospect of lining up against some household names in the Championship – and hopes that Sons, like last season, can prove they have every right to be at that level.

He added: “I’ve played against Rangers before in a cup tie, but it was at Partick’s Firhill Stadium.

“So as a Rangers fan it will be great to experience playing at Ibrox. I think most of my family will be over for that one.

“Next season it will be a lot harder to get results that it has this year – but you want to compete against the best players you possibly can.

“You want to go out and prove you are good enough to be among them and the gaffer will have his eye on players who can come in and strengthen the squad.

“Our target for the season will depend on our squad. If we lose some of our key players it will be hard to replace them but it depends who we can bring in as well.

“It doesn’t really matter who wins the play-off but if Hibernian came down it would be another big club in the league and another big stadium to go and play at.

“Some people look at the Championship as being better than the Premiership next season but if you had the choice you’d probably want to play in the top flight.”

Where are the title heroes now?

LAST Friday, May 9, marked five years since Dumbarton lifted the Third Division title.

The last player to play for the club during the triumphant 2008/09 season left the club during the campaign just ended. Martin McNiff, whose only role during the title campaign was a late substitute appearance against Albion Rovers, joined Annan Athletic permanently after being on loan there.

However, most of the championship heroes have been away from the club for some time, heading to destinations ranging from Motherwell to Larkhall Thistle via Portadown.

Tragically, team captain Gordon Lennon was killed in an accident, aged only 26, in June 2009, just a month after lifting the league trophy.

Here are details of what the other title-winning squad members have done since they won the Third Division.

Dave McEwan

‘The Monk’ stayed at Dumbarton for a further season after winning the league before moving into the junior ranks with Larkhall Thistle. Now 32, he still plays for the Gasworks Park club but has been out injured since December. Thistle are currently in the Central First Division and are set to finish this season in mid-table.

Pat Boyle

Signed for Partick Thistle in the close season of 2009 after finishing the campaign strongly. However, spent the second half of the 2009/10 season on loan to Clyde and was then transferred permanently to Dunfermline. After two years at East End Park, which included a loan spell at Gateshead, the 27-year-old has been part of Airdrieonians’ successful battle against the drop from League One this season.

Michael Dunlop

Another whose stay at Dumbarton lasted another year, during which he was team captain. He has subsequently played for Alloa Athletic, Brechin City and Stranraer. He joined Albion Rovers last year and was part of the Cliftonhill team which took Rangers to a replay in this season’s Scottish Cup. Despite playing against Sons many times since leaving, the 31-year-old has never been on the winning side in a league match in that time.

Ben Gordon

Stayed at Dumbarton until 2011 and took over from Dunlop as team captain before, like his predecessor, he joined Alloa. At Recreation Park he has won two consecutive promotions and this year, helped the Wasps stay up on the final day on goal difference. However, he too has yet to beat Dumbarton, in any competition, since leaving. Now 28.

Ross Clark

Top scorer during the title-winning season, he joined Stenhousemuir in the close season of 2010. However, the 31-year-old’s only season at Ochilview was riddled with injuries, which eventually forced him to hang up his boots. He scored twice for Stenny in a 4-0 win over Sons in October 2010 which proved to be Jim Chapman’s last game as Dumbarton manager.

Ryan McStay

Stayed at Dumbarton for two more years before joining Albion Rovers in the close season of 2011, where he stayed for one year. A season with Ayr United then followed and after signing for junior outfit Irvine Meadow, did a dramatic U-turn and moved into football in Northern Ireland with Portadown. He has just helped the club to a fourth-placed league finish, missing out on a Europa League place by only four points.

Ross Forbes

Returned to Motherwell at the end of his successful loan spell with Dumbarton, but after a promising resumption to life at Fir Park, was released in the 2012 close season. Played for Sons again as a trialist in a 3-0 defeat at Partick Thistle in August of that year, but ended up signing for the Jags and helped them to the First Division title last season. Having now left Firhill, he plays for Dunfermline and has a chance to win promotion again with the Pars when they take on Cowdenbeath in the play-off final this week.

Denis McLaughlin

Joined Sons permanently from Hearts in the season following the title success, but the switch did not work out and he ended the 2009/10 campaign on loan to Albion Rovers before being released. He moved into the junior ranks with Arthurlie and then Irvine Meadow before joining Rutherglen Glencairn in 2012. However, he suffered a bad knee injury in March 2013 and has been out of action since.

Derek Carcary

A talisman during Sons’ title-winning season, the Clydebank-based striker had two more years with the club before being released in the 2011 close season, joining Brechin City. When he played for Brechin in Sons’ 4-2 victory at the Rock in May 2012, he was one of three players on the pitch that day who have scored a hat-trick for Dumbarton, the other two being Craig Dargo (whose treble came in that game) and Jim Lister. Now 27, he has just been freed by the Glebe Park club after three seasons.

Stevie Murray

Another blue-chip player for Sons during the title-winning season, he left in the 2010 close season and joined Stenhousemuir. Two years at Ochilview followed and, like Clark, he was in the Stenny team that ended Chapman’s tenure as Sons manager with a 4-0 win. Hung up his boots aged only 29 after being released by the Warriors in 2012.

Andy Geggan

Left Sons for Ayr United in 2011 after five successful years at the club. He has been relegated from the First Division (now the Championship) through the play-offs in each of the last two complete seasons, firstly with Ayr in 2012 and then with Dunfermline a year later. However, still with the Pars, he has a chance to win promotion back to the second tier this week when he, Forbes and their team-mates face Cowdenbeath.

Iain Chisholm

Another who left Sons in 2011, he signed for East Stirlingshire, making his debut against Dumbarton in July of that year in a Challenge Cup tie which Sons won 3-2. However, he did not complete the season with the Ochilview Park club and signed for Arthurlie later on in the season. Now back in senior football at Annan Athletic and was part of the squad which reached the play-offs this season.

Paul McLeod

Chose to leave Dumbarton at the end of the title-winning season and signed for Clyde before joining Albion Rovers. He has since been playing junior football, turning out for Arthurlie and Petershill.

Mark Canning

Released at the end of the 2008/09 season and joined Albion Rovers, but only stayed at Cliftonhill for one season. After spending some time playing amateur football with Eddlewood, he is now playing at junior level as a team-mate of McEwan at Larkhall Thistle.

Mark McGeown

The keeper was already 38 when he joined Sons at the start of the title-winning season. Stayed at the club until midway through the 2009/10 campaign, then joined Queen’s Park. He hung up his gloves at the end of that season.

Kieran Brannan

Was retained by the club until midway through the 2011/12 season when he joined Clyde on loan, and was then released by Dumbarton at the end of the season. Spent the 2012/13 season at Albion Rovers before joining Annan a year later. Along with Chisholm, he was part of the Galabank squad that reached this season’s play-offs.

Michael O’Byrne

Joined Albion Rovers after being released by Dumbarton in the close season of 2009. After a year at Livingston, he was back at Cliftonhill, where he stayed for a further two seasons. Airdrieonians were his next stop in the close season of last year but he finished the season on loan at Stirling Albion. Could win promotion with the Forthbank club this week when they face East Fife in the League One play-off final.

Paul Keegan

The Irish striker joined Airdrie at the end of the title-winning season. After spending the 2009/10 campaign at New Broomfield, he moved into junior football with Beith. Now 41.

Michael White

Sons’ third-choice goalkeeper during the title-winning season was released in the 2011 close season. Now playing junior football for Petershill.

Jim Chapman – manager

Stayed in charge until October 2010 when a disastrous start to the season saw him accept a new position at the club in charge of community and football development. He remained in that position until January 2013, when he accepted the post of first team manager at Annan Athletic. Still gaffer at Galabank now, he managed Annan to the League One play-offs this season but they were beaten in the semi-final by Stirling Albion.

Dundee 2 Dumbarton 1

BETTER lucky than good, so they say.

A statement Dumbarton will readily endorse when it comes to this season’s games against Dundee.

Performance-wise, they haven’t looked out of place in any of their four fixtures against this season’s Championship title winners.

But all of those games have been lost, with Sons almost completely devoid of breaks going in their favour.

The Dark Blues looked set to coast to the title with the win they needed on Saturday after taking a 2-0 half time lead through Christian Nade and Peter MacDonald.

However, a Scott Agnew penalty midway through the second half made them sweat. And then came the final piece of bad luck against Dundee this season.

With eight minutes left Chris Kane chased a through ball only to be clipped by Kyle Benedictus on the edge of the area.

More than 10,000 people in the stadium held their breath, but referee Bobby Madden and assistant Dougie Potter were unmoved. A penalty which may have gone to Sons on another day wasn’t to be theirs this time.

Add that to the harsh sending off of Colin Nish in the first game against Dundee this season. Add it to the disallowed goals of Garry Fleming in the second meeting and Chris Turner in the third.

It’s a catalogue of bad luck which means Sons probably won’t be that sorry to see the back of Dundee as they go back up to the Premiership after only a season away.

But it can’t take away from a brilliant season for Dumbarton, which was not to have the miracle ending of snatching fourth place from Queen of the South with the craziest sequence of results.

The World Cup can come and go for all those associated with Sons care. Their 12-week countdown to the new season is well and truly on.

The early stages at Dens Park saw Dumbarton dominate. Nish headed straight at the keeper from Agnew’s free kick while Mitch Megginson bent a shot over.

However, Dundee overcame any early nerves and got on top. Gavin Rae forced a save from Jamie Ewings, who also saved from MacDonald on the line with home fans ready to celebrate.

In the end, those supporters only had to wait a while, until the 25th minute, for their team to really be in the lead. Nade’s header evaded Ewings’ hand and dipped under the crossbar and in.

Two minutes later an attempted lob by Nish was turned on to the upright by the keeper. Already this was feeling like another hard luck story for Sons.

And 10 minutes from half time they were further behind. MacDonald got in to meet a high ball from the right ahead of the visiting defence and his header made no mistake.

Some teams may have caved in from here. Dumbarton simply don’t do that.

They did nearly concede a third early in the second half when Nade’s header hit the post. Then a loose ball fell to Martin Boyle six yards out only for the defence to scramble clear.

But Sons battled back, with Paul McGinn’s header at the back post going over while Nish’s header was saved.

Then on 67 minutes Bryan Prunty shaped up to shoot only to be fouled by Willie Dyer. Madden awarded the penalty and Agnew did the needful from 12 yards.

Soon after that Kane had a shot turned wide, and then he and Agnew were somehow denied in a goalmouth scramble after Michael Miller fired over a low ball from the right.

And then you had it. A full set of four games this season where Sons can point to key moments that haven’t gone their way.

With nine minutes left Nish had a fairly decent shout for a penalty when he looked to be wrestled to the ground by Benedictus.

But Kane’s claim, against the same defender as he went for a long pass, looked a lot more convincing. On neither occasion did the officials take any action.

The final insult looked to have come when MacDonald looked set to score a third, but Ewings turned away his shot and the loose ball was cleared.

Surely this was the sign that Dumbarton were going to get some luck against the champions? There was one last opportunity as McGinn sent over a high ball from the right.

Prunty met it and his firm header was going in – until the keeper got the slightest touch to deflect it wide.

It wasn’t to be. But there were celebrations at the end for both sets of fans, with some of the home contingent sportingly taking time out to applaud the Sons followers’ efforts.

The main goal at the start of the season was to stay up. That was achieved three weeks ago. Job not just done, but done magnificently.

As an afterthought, the total score from Dumbarton’s four games against Dundee this season?

10-2. The very scoreline at Hamilton’s game with Morton that could have robbed the Dens Park men of the title.

But then, that would have required a break to have come Sons’ way.

Dundee: Letheren; Irvine, Dyer, McBride, MacDonald (Beattie 87), Rae, Benedictus, Gallagher, McAlister, Boyle (Conroy 73), Nade (Riley 79). Subs: Twardzik; Cummins, Kerr, Wighton.

Dumbarton: Ewings; McGinn, Graham, Turner (Kirkpatrick 64), Gilhaney, Agnew, Megginson (Kane 46), Fleming (Prunty 57), Linton, Nish, Miller. Subs: Grindlay; McLaughlin, McDougall, Murray.

Referee: Bobby Madden.

Crowd: 10,718

“It’s been a fantastic season”

THERE is techno music blaring through the wall from the dressing room.

And it’s only 45 minutes before he manages Dumbarton against Hamilton Accies. The final home game of the league season and the first of at least two matches he must watch from the stand.

But with Ian Murray sat in his office at the Bet Butler Stadium, there’s another pressing issue.

As he opens a container of chewing gum, several of its contents fall on the floor.

It’s a light-hearted moment. However, the gaffer is under no illusions. Matters are about to get serious at the Rock.

With two games still to play, at the time of our meeting, Sons are still in with a chance of the top four.

And whether they do complete an incredible season by making it to the play-offs, futures still have to be decided soon.

Including his own.

The boss’s contract is due to expire this month. But there is other business to be taken care of before his stay is extended.

Ian said: “My contract is up in a few weeks and we need to cement our league position first. It’s not fair on ourselves, the chairman and board to act before then.

“We need to know how much prize money we will get. Once we do we will hopefully sit down again and have another chat.

“But I did say we had been good for each other. The club took a chance to appoint me and on the flip side I think I have repaid them by earning a top half finish.

“I’m pretty confident we will get something sorted.

“I love my time here and the players have made it great for me. Frustrations come because you want to do better and you want everything done yesterday, but that’s going to happen anywhere.

“I’m in no rush whatsoever to jump up the leagues but it’s a different matter completely if a club comes calling for you.

“My main objective is to try and help Dumbarton build as a football club and I feel I’ve given them a platform to do that.”

Even with that in mind, plans are already being made for the 2014/15 campaign.

Chris Turner and Jordan Kirkpatrick are already signed. After the last ball of the season is kicked, be that at Dundee on Saturday or in the play-offs, talks are set to take place with more players.

And although no signing talks have taken place with potential additions, they are being watched.

However, some members of the club’s highest achieving squad for decades are set to be moved on.

Two years ago, Ian was in that position, when he was told by then Hibernian boss Pat Fenlon he was being released from Easter Road.

He delivered the bad news to some players at the end of last season, but now having had a full campaign in charge of the squad, is facing the same again.

He continued: “It’s a really hard time for players, especially at part-time level, because you simply can’t hand out two or three-year contracts there.

“You live year to year as a part-time player and if you earn a high wage one season you might not get it the next. It’s not a five-year plan.

“I hope the majority of players will stay as I feel they have at least another year in them at this level.

“But like any other team, we want to add quality and we need to add about three or four players. That probably gives players headaches but that’s just the nature of football.

“As yet I haven’t spoken to a single player outside the club. There are some who we are watching, and who we might send scouts to watch, but no contact has been made.”

However, despite speculation, ex-Scotland keeper Craig Gordon is not likely to put in another appearance at the Rock next season, following his time as a coach at the club in 2013.

Ian, who was said to be interested in adding Gordon, said: “I don’t know where the talk about Craig came from. It’s absolutely not true and I’m sure he’ll be playing in at least the Scottish Premiership next season.”

It almost seems a shame that the season is drawing to a close, so impressive have Dumbarton been since its start.

As well as the exploits which have taken them to the top half of the league, Premiership opposition has twice been run close on cup business.

No-one expected a push for the play-offs, but however unlikely, Sons have hung on in there right to the bitter end.

Ian said: “It’s been a fantastic season. Our ambition at the start was to stay in the league and hopefully we could do a bit better than that.

“Finishing in the top half is an exceptional achievement by the players – and then there are the cup competitions.

“We lost narrowly to a very good Dundee United side in the League Cup at a stage where we weren’t quite firing on all cylinders.

“And losing in the Scottish Cup quarter final to an Aberdeen team which may finish second in the Premiership, we didn’t disgrace ourselves.

“But there are some frustrations as having done so well, we might end up with nothing.

“You look at Queen of the South beating us three times, so that is nine points gained on us straight away, and that will cost us a play-off position.

“It took us until January to record back-to-back wins. We’ve also not taken any points at Morton but we’ve no divine right to do that – you have to earn the points.”

However, there are so many areas where it all went right.

Where part-time Dumbarton ensured they will finish above full-timers Livingston, Raith Rovers and Morton. And maybe Queen of the South.

Early in the campaign, Alloa looked like being the highest-ranked part-time team in the league, ahead of Sons and Cowdenbeath.

But Dumbarton have taken 17 points from a possible 24 in that mini-league of three teams. The other two have only gathered eight.

Ian continued: “Winning 5-1 at Alloa let us build a bit of momentum and send out a message to the rest of the league. We were excellent in that game and it could have been more.

“There have been many other games that you look at and think we deserve to have done so well. The 4-1 game at home to Alloa was a great performance and we managed to beat Hamilton 2-1 in December in a game which could have gone either way.

“At that point we were nine points behind Alloa. We felt that if we could catch up with them we’d have had a good season and since then the players have turned it around immensely well.

“Even in the games against Dundee we have looked exceptionally good despite not taking any points.”

With kick-off against Hamilton fast approaching, there’s one other point to chat about. We are talking four days after the sacking of David Moyes as Manchester United boss after 10 months in charge.

So how does a young manager, who one day just might make it to that level, view those developments at Old Trafford?

Ian added: “That’s the nature of the beast. It’s been documented more because Man United are so close to home but it happens at other clubs around the world.

“It was very difficult for Moyes because whoever took over from Sir Alex Ferguson was on a hiding to nothing.

“Ten years ago he’d probably have got away with another season but money is running the game at that level and they won’t get any from the Champions League next season.”

With that, it is off to watch the Hamilton game. Sons blitz the title chasers 4-1.

Still the faintest of chances remains of the play-offs, with a game to go. A fantastic season indeed.