Clyde boost as manager Barry Ferguson signs new deal

Clyde received a boost ahead of their game against Annan at Broadwood tonight when manager Barry Ferguson agreed an extended contract until the end of the 2018-19 season.

A win would take them to within a point of leaders East Fife and the former Rangers and Scotland captain said: “It is the right thing to do as we are trying to build something and plan ahead, rather than just look at it one season at a time. We have been discussing new contracts with the existing players and they were looking for my commitment as part of that.”

Tonight’s game is Clyde’s ninth in 31 days and Ferguson is looking for the resilience that his squad showed against East Stirling on Saturday to gain a seventh win in that period.

He said: “We lost an early goal and had a man sent off, but the players stuck together and got us a good 4-2 win. It was a good result and I was delighted with the desire and effort, but we can play better.”

David Marsh is suspended, while Scott McMann, Scott Ferguson and Brain McQueen are injured and Mark McLaughlin is rated as a doubt.

Annan also have strong motivation to win as they would climb above Queen’s Park and into the play-off zone. Manager Jim Chapman, enjoying his side playing “cup” football, said: “We had been on a bad run and had won only once in five games. It was beginning to look like the play-offs were slipping from us and we asked the players to make every game a cup final, starting against Queen’s Park last midweek.

“We won 3-1 and on Saturday we played Berwick and won 1-0 despite being short of bodies. Clyde are on form so this will be a tough game, but if we play like it is a cup final again then we have a chance.”

Chapman could struggle for a defence as Steven Black, Steven Swinglehurst and Kevin Nicoll all fell ill at the weekend and were missing against the Borderers. On-loan Celtic youngster Jack Breslin is away with Scotland under-19s and Bryan Gilfillan is out with a calf problem.