PROMOTION HEARTACHE

Published 16 Jun 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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JOY TO ANGUISH: Billy Jones celebrates putting Bankies into the lead again, but it was not enough

Bankies must bounce back from play-off agony

BUDGIE McGhie lamented Clydebank's agonising play-off defeat to Lanark United on Friday night - but the Bankies boss still insists his side can celebrate a terrific campaign.

Clydebank came close to pulling off another heroic result as Stevie Dallas put them ahead in the first half.

But once again the Holm Park club didn't get the rub of the green as Lanark United went on to win 3-2 on aggregate to keep hold of their Premier League status.

Despite the defeat, McGhie was filled with pride by his players' efforts over the energy-sapping season.

He said: "I had mixed emotions on the night. I was proud of the players as they turned in an extremely good performance and did everything that was asked of them.

"But we didn't get the rewards we deserved and we could have won the game three or four nil.

"Anyone who was at the game would say they weren't surprised we didn't manage to score more goals.

"But we will re-group and come back stronger. Hopefully we can go up automatically next season.

"It has been a good season. We have won a cup and got to the semi-final of the Scottish Cup and there wasn't much between ourselves and Largs.

"We have also managed to finish third so we have progressed on last season. It has been a successful season despite losing in the play-offs."

The Bankies will begin preparations for next season by strengthening the squad over the summer.

The Clydebank gaffer believes his side haven't found the net enough this campaign and will want to improve in this area next season.

McGhie added: "We have been thinking about next season for a while.

"I haven't spoken to our own players yet because they have had an end-of-season trip down to Liverpool.

"But the fact that we are not in the Premier League may affect players' decisions to come to the club.

"A problem this season is that we haven't scored enough.

"I think I have to look at the team as a whole and we have not had a lot of luck. I know it isn't all down to that but we have been missing key players due to injury.

"We missed Stevie Dallas for seventeen games, Stevie Dymock was out for a good number of games as well.

"We have had players come in late in the season, such as Chris Mackie and Mark Kilpatrick, but we have not had the breaks.

"We have also had a lot of games to play towards the end of the season."

Final day disappointment is nothing new to Clydebank as they missed promotion by just two goals in 2005 when they were pipped by Dunipace.

And McGhie hopes his current squad can recover from Friday's play-off agony in similar fashion as they did five years ago.

He said: "We have had this type of disappointment before and we have managed to bounce back from it.

"We had to beat Benburb on the last day to be promoted in 2005 and lost out on goal difference, but we managed to bounce back from that disappointment.

"It think as a club we are ready to appear in the Premier League.

"Things are falling into place for us on and off the pitch and we can take a lot of positives from this season."

This article appeared in Clydebank Post 16 Jun 10

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