STEVIE AITKEN has become known as the coupon buster to his friends.

The Dumbarton manager has happily lost count of the number of times when come a Saturday night get-together he has been hit with a complaint that his 'wee' team has cost someone a hefty pools win.

Dumbarton are the Championship’s only part-time club and yet twice this season have beaten Dundee United. They continue to take points from full-time teams and it’s why Aitken was yesterday rightly named the league’s manager of the month.

There are more glamorous names in Scottish football than those who ply their trade under that big rock on the Clyde; however, there are not many clubs about, and this is absolutely true, that can claim to be as successful. In context, of course.

Aitken admits himself that in the five seasons his club have remained in the second tier, Rangers, Hibs, Dundee United, Falkirk and the rest should always be turning over the league’s smallest team. That they don’t, for the most part, is some achievement and the fact that once again have given themselves a chance to stay up is testament to a collective making sure their club punch well above their weight.

“It’s about hard work,” said Aitken with some modesty. “My name is on the award but it’s a team effort. I work with great people, the players give me everything and we happen to be at a great football club.

“You are correct to say we have no right to be in this league. One by one we have watched the other part-time teams come and go. We are still here and the aim is to sustain what we have.

"We more than gold our own. A few pals have had a go because our result has done them out of a win no the coupon.

“I get three hours a week with my players. They work ten-hour days, night-shifts and all the rest that comes with being a part-time footballer. Look at who we are up against. These are far bigger clubs, all are full-time, and we are able to compete with them.”

Ask anyone about Dumbarton and they will tell you the club enjoys a fine reputation within football circles. This is not unimportant when I comes to player recruitment.

“We have had some really good experienced pros come here and have loved it,” said Aitken. “When we go to sign a player they always say ‘so-and-so told me the training was some of the best he’s had’ and that helps us to sell ourselves.

“We have a good reputation. That’s not accident. It’s hard work. I can meet a player five or six times, and this is before training, in a bid to convince them to join us. Again, he will have heard good things about Dumbarton which means you have a chance. I am proud about that."

Aitken is in his fifth season as a manager. He took over a Stranraer team “which had nothing” and almost won the league with them. The job he has done since at Dumbarton, this will be his second full season, is a superb one.

“We get a lot of positive feedback where we go," he said. "Other managers are forever telling me about the good things they’ve heard from former players of ours about what we are trying to do."

It does make you wonder why the 40-year-old hasn’t been given a chance at a bigger job. More than a few with less qualifications have been preferred when posts have come up.

“Listen, I have a great job at Dumbarton," Aitken was keen to stress. “I love what I do. There are only 42 of us in Scotland so in many way I realise I’m fortunate to be in this position.

“But I am ambitious. I want to do well in football management. It would be nice to be given a crack at a full-time club. It would be nice to get more than three hours with the players. But until that phone rings…”

Mark Docherty, a talented defender, was named player of the month by sponsors Ladbrokes. Dumbarton lost only once in five games, won three, including victory over Dundee United who were top of the league at the time, and drew 4-4 at Ayr United.

“The players give everything” said Aitken. “And we don’t set out just to frustrate teams. We play good football, we score a lot of goals, this is a good side to watch."

The manager is worth watching out for as well.