Published: Wednesday, 1st July, 2009 9:46am

Player boost can win us the league

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CLYDEBANK boss Budgie McGhie has sent a message to the rest of the Stagecoach First Divsion that his side will be gunning for promotion this year.

The Bankies finished six points off third-placed Lanark last season, but a cup run leading all the way to the final has instilled a sense of pride and ambition at Holm Park.

Now McGhie feels his side can go all the way and secure promotion to the Premier League to cap a second sucessful season in a row.

He said: 'It"s difficult to say how we"ll get on against other teams at this stage. A lot of teams haven"t declared their signings so we don"t know how other sides will be.

'But no doubt, we will be going for promotion.

'It looks like it could be a very competitive league.

'There are some big Ayshire sides coming down from the Premier and Rutherglen Glencairn are coming up with a quite bit of money - so I think it will be a challenge.'

With pre-season training beginning on Saturday, gaffer McGhie has already set about strengthening the Clydebank sqaud.

Mark Hailstones and captain Gary Lynn have both signed on for another season along with goalkeeper and player of the year, Stefan Gonet.

Andy Selkirk, Charlie Hobbs and John Jack have also put pen to paper along with defenders Paul Allum and Martin McInnes with talks currently ongoing with the rest of the Clydebank squad.

McGhie recently captured the signatures of forward Steven Dymock from Rob Roy, Campsie Black Watch defender Ross Campbell and midfielder Nikky Cairney from West Park.

and he could also be looking to snap up as many as six additional players for the start of the season.

The Bankies" gaffer also confirmed the departure of Martin McIntyre who has not been offered a new contract and Alan Jack who has signed for the Vale of Clyde.

Meanwhile, Chris Mackie is on trial with Third Division new-comers Queen"s Park.

The fixtures have also been announced for this coming season and Clydebank will open with a trip to Ayrshire to face newly promoted Dalry Thistle.

The Sectional League Cup draw has handed the Bankies a derby fixture with Yoker on Saturday August 8.

Clydebank will also host Maryhill, with two trips to Glasgow Perthshire and newly promoted Ashfield.

Other draws include the first round of the New Coins Automatic West of Scotland Cup, where Clydebank have been given a home tie against South Lanarkshire side Forth Wanderers.