CLYDEBANK manager Budgie McGhie admitted Bankies’ automatic promotion chances look slim – but he insists a play-off spot would still be a big achievement for his side.

The Bankies drew 1-1 at Kilwinning Rangers on Saturday to keep them in the hunt. But with promotion rivals Largs Thistle and Cumnock winning, McGhie admits Bankies are now relying on a collapse by two of those three sides, which he doesn’t expect to happen.

If Clydebank do miss out on automatic promotion from the Super League First Division, a third-placed finish would put them into a promotion play-off with Premier League side Shettleston.

That would represent a good season according to McGhie, as he praised his young squad for hanging in the title race despite a hectic run of fixtures.

He said: "I thought the boys did great on Saturday, considering we were down to the bare bones. Some of them were out on their feet after so many games in such a short period of time.

“It’s been tough because in the normal season if a player picks up an injury he’s normally out for two or three weeks. With the way the fixtures have piled up that would rule him out for something like eight games, which is a good chunk of the season. We’ve played more than half of our fixtures in the last month.

“The players have been great. The attitude they have shown has been tremendous. No matter where we finish in this league I am really proud of them. We have to remember we have a lot of young players who don’t have a lot of experience in junior football “I think if we were to keep in the mix for the two automatic promotion places, three points were essential on Saturday. It would probably take quite a big collapse from two of Cumnock, Largs and Kilwinning for that to happen now.

“I think the automatic looks a bit beyond us but we’ve got a chance at a play-off place. If we got that it would be great for the boys.”

Mark Burbidge fired Clydebank’s equaliser on Saturday and the lightning quick wide man has been a stand-out performer for Bankies in his first season at junior level.

Burbidge, who goes by the nicknamed "Bubba", has barely missed a game and McGhie admitted he would love to keep him at the club next season.

He said: “Bubba has been great. It’s not just going forward he works back the way, which a lot of attacking players don’t do.

He’s been a joy to work with and deserves all the credit he gets. I think there is still a lot of improvement to come from him as well“We would love to have him next season, we’ve already told him that. Right now he just wants to concentrate on finishing the season.”

Clydebank travel to face Cumnock on Saturday, kick-off 2pm.