DUMBARTON midfielder Chris Turner has turned down a move to Morton to sign a two-year extension with the Sons, the Tele can reveal.

Cappielow chief Allan Moore targeted the 26-year-old after noticing him in the two matches he played against Ton last season and receiving glowing reports from Michael O'Neill.

Northern Ireland national team manager O'Neill told Moore that fellow Ulsterman Turner had been the best midfielder in the League of Ireland when turning out for Shamrock Rovers between 2010 and 2012. But the disappointed Ton boss revealed that his offer was rebuffed because the Sons tabled better terms than he himself could.

Moore told the Tele: "The boy Turner has knocked me back. He's been offered better terms to stay at Dumbarton, but I believe they've pushed the boat out to keep him.

"He would have added a bit of steel in the middle of the park. I watched him a few times and spoke to Michael O'Neill about him.

"He was his manager at Shamrock Rovers and said he was the best midfielder in the League of Ireland for two years.

"It shows how much Dumbarton want to keep him because they've offered him good terms and they're getting him a job as well.

"It's disappointing that somebody you've targeted doesn't want to come, especially when they want to stay with a part-time team.

"But I'll be honest, there are a lot of boys out there who I think will knock us back because they're getting near enough what we can offer while playing part-time and have a job outside the game on top of that."