Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken has called upon the SPFL to allow the use of trialists in the Betfred Cup, after being plunged into an injury crisis ahead of the new Championship season.

Aitken says that the Sons have been forced to look at making further signings which haven’t been budgeted for after picking up injuries to four key players, with two of those long-term.

He feels that the demands of playing so many competitive games in such a short period at this stage of the season has proven too much for his part-time squad, and that it would be common sense to allow trialists to play in order to ease the burden on smaller clubs.

“I think a few managers have said it, but I don’t think that we are ready to play three games a week at this stage of the season,” Aitken said.

“We’ve picked up a lot of injuries, and we’ve been struggling to fill the bench for these games. I’m now going to have to sign another two players that weren’t in the budget to make sure we have enough numbers.

“It’s not been ideal preparation, and if we could have played trialists in the group stages then I’m sure that would have helped a lot of teams. That’s been a real problem for us.

“I’ve got four players out and have had to ask a couple to play through knocks, which is not a great idea. It’s not been kind to us.

“Performance-wise it’s been good, although we haven’t had the results. But certainly, I would say that the League Cup this summer has definitely been a hindrance for us.

“And it’s not just me, I think if you ask any manager they would say the same. East Fife only had two subs during the week, and Alan Archibald was in the paper last week saying that the timing of it is not ideal.

“At part-time level especially, I certainly feel that we can’t handle three games in a week at this time of year, we’re just not ready for it.

“A lot of managers I have spoken to aren’t really big fans of it. For teams with an under-20s side then they can maybe run with it and get on with it, but every club is different.

“I liked the idea of the group stages and I would keep it, but let us play trialists. Let us have a chance to get players ready for the start of the season rather than have players having two or three weeks intense training and then just being fired straight into games.

“It’s caught us out this year and we’re really struggling to get a team on the park.”

One thing that Aitken didn’t need to add to his list of absentees for Saturday’s trip to Kilmarnock in their final Betfred Cup match this season was an avoidable suspension.

But experienced striker Christian Nade had his manager tearing his hair our after being sent off against Annan on Tuesday night for using abusive language towards an assistant referee.

“It was disappointing because we’re down to the bare bones as it is,” Aitken said. “Christian was frustrated that he didn’t get a penalty kick, there was an argument between him and the linesman and he’s spoken out of turn.

“It’s something we could really do without. It’s been a difficult two weeks and things haven’t been going well.

“We’ll certainly go to Kilmarnock and do the best we can, but I just can’t afford any other players to pick up knocks.

“Talks are ongoing with some players just now and I’d ideally like to get two in before Saturday to get them playing. If not, even one would be good.

“We’re a bit short from midfield through to the front area, and we maybe need a defender too to give us more cover.”