CLYDEBANK boss Budgie McGhie believes his side are in a four-way battle for promotion back to the Premier League.

The Bankies are second in the Super League First Division, four points behind leaders Largs Thistle with a game in hand.

Kilwinning Rangers are one point further back while Cumnock Juniors are a further six points behind them, however they have played three games less than Bankies and Kilwinning.

With the top two gaining automatic promotion and third going into a play-off with third bottom in the Premier League, McGhie is convinced those positions will be taken by three of the current top four.

He said: “The league is looking like it could be a four-team challenge at the top.

“Yoker, Kilsyth and Cumbernauld will still feel they have a good chance but in this league when you have a bit of catching up to do it is not the easiest.

“So I think it could be down to the top four teams to battle it out.”

Meanwhile McGhie gave updates on some of his injured players, revealing that striker Derek Carcary is unlikely to be available for the rest of the campaign as he awaits an operation.

Defender Robbie Halliday and midfielder Johnny Allan are still struggling with injuries that several physios have struggled to diagnose.

He said: “Derek Carcary probably won’t be available for the rest of the season. He is probably going to need an operation and right now because of his work situation he can’t commit to that.

“It would jeopardise his job and with a young kid and a wife to support you can understand why he wouldn’t want to do that just now.

“I think Del will leave it until the summer and then decide on his future.

“Robbie Halliday and Johnny Allan are both still injured and are frustrated at the nature of the injuries because they are difficult ones to call. Between them they’ve seen quite a few physios and they are struggling to put their finger on how to deal with it.

“We’re trying to get them to more specialists. It’s disappointing for all three, Derek I thought would have been really effective in this league and we’ve not had him available.

“Johnny and Robbie have been in the team and showed that they have a lot to offer. Scott Walker has singed with Blantyre, we’ve not had him available all season but he has moved on.”