 A loan spell at Dumbarton for the first part of the 2004–05 season brought him twelve games, but he played no further matches on his return to Tannadice and was released in September 2005.Two months later, he signed for Airdrie Utd.In May 2008, Holmes left Airdrie to join Scottish First Division side Dunfermline Athletic joining up with manager Jim McIntyre, whom he played with while at Dundee United.