Paul Paton admits he turned down offers from various clubs, including Airdrie, to sign for Dumbarton.
The experienced midfielder left East Kilbride after his contract expired this summer and he decided to join the League One side.
Paton spent the second half of last season on-loan at Airdrie as they embarked on a brilliant run to finish second behind Partick Thistle.
The former Dundee United man says people expected him to re-join the Diamonds but he explained that Dumbarton was a perfect fit.
Paton said: "I think everybody was expecting me to go to Airdrie, but there were a few conversations with a few different clubs.
"I had a think about things, I thought about going back to the Lowland League, but to look back on my career and have more than 500 appearances in the league meant more to me. And I felt Dumbarton was the right club to do that at.
"I spoke to Frank McKeown, the assistant manager, and he didn’t have to sell the club to me. But the things he said were everything that I’d hope to hear from an assistant manager.
"Even stuff in my private life suited. It’s only just over the water from my house in Linwood, so it’s not far at all.
"When you have a full-time job then things like that can really make a difference. That’s my own private life.
"In terms of the football, it’s going to be a whole new team here. I know a lot of the boys who are signing, I know they are good players so we should have a good side this season and hopefully surprise a few folk."
Paton dropped down to the Lowland League last summer when he joined East Kilbride as they targeted promotion to League Two.
The former Northern Ireland international enjoyed playing under Stevie Aitken but his spell at Airdrie reignited his desire to play in the SPFL.
"I decided to go part-time because of the pandemic" Paton added. "I knew teams would be cutting back their budgets and I felt it was the perfect time to go part-time - especially with their being no fans in the stadiums.
"I looked at it as if it didn’t matter who I was playing for as there would be no fans there anyway.
"East Kilbride gave me a good deal and I thought that it would be perfect for me. I enjoyed my short spell there, but I enjoyed my time at Airdrie even more.
"I think Ian Murray is a top manager and I have a lot of respect for him and Airdrie.
"I’d like to thank them for my short spell there and I wish them well for next year - but, obviously, I hope they finish below us!
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