Clyde endured a nightmare season which threatened to end in disaster before saving themselves at the death. The Bully Wee were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Queen’s Park in the two-legged play-off final last May and manager Barry Ferguson acted quickly to strength his squad during the close season with some impressive signings including defender Martin McNiff and midfielder Matthew Flynn from Annan Athletic, attacking midfielder Dylan Easton from Elgin City and experienced striker Peter MacDonald from Championship Morton. They were installed as favourites to lift the League Two title and made a positive start to the season. They remained in the title hunt until Christmas but a run to the fifth round of the Scottish F.A. Cup proved something of a distraction. A 2-1 home defeat in a replay to Championship Ayr United was followed by the resignation of Barry Ferguson less than a fortnight later. Midfielder Jon-Paul McGovern and striker Peter MacDonald were placed in caretaker charge of a side that had picked up just two points from a possible 33 but a run of just one defeat from their last five games saw them scrape a second-bottom finish in the League Two table, three points ahead of bottom side Cowdenbeath. Ferguson wasn’t helped by the loss of defender Jordan Lowdon and midfielder Dylan Easton to season-ending cruciate knee ligaments injuries early on but there are no excuses for such a disappointing campaign. Midfielder and Captain Scott McLaughlin missed just one league game and was the mainstay of the side. Striker David Gormley will be pleased with 16 goals in his second season and provided support alongside MacDonald in attack. He finished as leading goalscorer with 22 goals in all competitions and was voted player of the season. The club faces an uncertain summer with the appointment of a new permanent manager crucial to the chances of a much-improved showing in 2017/18.
