Clydebank boss Kieran McAnespie has revealed he will give youth a chance in his side’s remaining league fixtures.

Sitting mid-table with seven matches to go, the gaffer knows Bankies’ slim hopes of mounting a challenge are all but gone which gives him the freedom to bleed in youngsters with an eye on next season.

With seven league matches remaining, Clydebank boss Kieran McAnespie insists his main focus is now giving a number of younger players the chance to develop within the first team squad with an eye on next season and beyond.

McAnespie revealed the club’s main goal this season was a successful Scottish Junior Cup campaign and to improve and build on their 10th place finish in the league last season.

Thirty seconds away from knocking league leaders Hurlford out of the cup at the quarter-final stage and a greater points tally show that the Bankies have achieved their early season targets, which has now given McAnespie the freedom to give youth a chance in the run in.

He said: “It’s all about looking ahead now and letting the young boys get some game time.

“It’s about taking stock and looking at what we have.

“Sean Findlay in the U21s is an outstanding talent. He’s made appearances for us already this season and we’ve also got a few from the U19s who have stepped up too.”

With 18-year-old Bankie Dylan Coll recently called up to represent Scotland in the Centenary Shield, the academy is certainly producing the goods.

McAnespie added: “Dylan has been outstanding in training so we definitely want to get him involved at some stage in the remaining matches. Dylan was called up for Scotland at schoolboys level so he’s an exciting talent.

“Elsewhere, we’ve got our big goalkeeper Cammy King out on loan to get some game time at Cumbernauld. He’s been excellent for us when called upon so it was important that he got that opportunity to got out. Cumbernauld are in with a chance of promotion from the Championship so that will be a really good experience for him.

“The likes of Matt McLean, Ross Alexander and Jack McClair are all still chipping away at the starting XI so it will be good to give them some more time as well.”

For a team like Clydebank who are looking to consolidate and improve again next season, it would be unrealistic to solely rely on academy youngsters.

With that in mind, McAnespie revealed there’s already been a verbal agreement from the majority of the starting XI that they will be signing up for the 2019/20 campaign.

And as well as tying down key players, the gaffer admits he’s also looking to bolster his squad.

He revealed: “I had a meeting with the chairwoman and the club secretary about our budget for next season. I couldn’t look too far ahead in terms of signings prior to that because I didn’t know what I would be working with but it was a good meeting.

“The first thing we did after that was reach out to the boys about staying for next season. Most of them will be which is ideal for us.

“Now that I’ve done that, I’ll be looking at what we can bring in to help improve the squad further. I’ve got my eye on one or two I would like to sign so it’s about trying to get those over the line now as soon as possible.

“We need to act quick so we don’t lose anyone. We’re going to start making inquiries now about whether players want to sign up.”