STEPHEN AITKEN'S first job after being named as the new Dumbarton manager is to fix up a squad for next season.

The 39-year-old has left Stranraer after two-and-a-half seasons to replace Ian Murray, who moved to St Mirren last week.

Aitken, who has signed a two-year deal at the Rock, will continue to work as an engineer with Rolls Royce and work on a similar part-time basis as Murray.

He has brought Stair Park assistant Stephen Farrell with him, and said: "I started work straight away by having a meeting with the players. In fact, I started work on Tuesday when I knew I was taking the job by doing my research into the squad.

"Some of the boys who were here under Ian have agreed to sign, but the paperwork has not been completed, so we will look to get that done as soon as possible. Hopefully we will have a number of signings to announce before the weekend.

"When things are working well there there is no need to make a lot of changes, so I will speak to the boys here before bringing other people in."

Aitken added: "It has been a frantic time since I agreed to come in and it will be great to get things settled down after what was an unsettling time for myself and the players.

"It was probably the right time for Ian to move on to St Mirren after two-and-a-half seasons here, and it was probably right for me to move from Stranraer after a similar length of time.

"It was difficult to leave Stranraer and, when I told the people there, it was quite an emotional time and I wish them well in the future."

Aitken, whose Stair Park side were pipped to the League One title by Morton and lost to Forfar in the play-off semi-final, added: "I have to praise Ian for the work he did at Dumbarton and I know that was a real team effort from him, his backroom staff and the players. It is an exciting challenge to carry that on.

"Next season there will be eight full-time teams in the Championship, plus ourselves and Alloa. The league could also include Rangers or Motherwell, and Hibs will definitely be there, so it will be a really tough environment, but that does not faze me."

As for Farrell joining as well, Aitken said: "I am delighted Stephen has joined me as he could have stayed on at Stranraer and had a shout at being their manager.

"Everything that was achieved at Stranraer was achieved together and that will be the same at Dumbarton."