Barry quits Clyde
Boss leaves after 10 games without a win
Clyde have“reluctantly”accepted the resignation of boss Barry Ferguson. The former Rangers captain has quit after a 1-0 defeat at Annan Athletic which left the Bully Wee without a win in ten Ladbrokes League Two games. But Saturday’s result means the club have a mountain to climb if they are to make any challenge of securing a play-off position before the end of the season. It is understood the 39-year-old is in the running to take up a role at his former club and is even a bookies’ favourite to take over from Graeme Murty who is in charge of the Ibrox side as caretaker boss. Commenting on his departure, Ferguson said: “As difficult as this is, I have decided I can no longer carry on at the club. “This has been on my mind for a couple of weeks now and I feel it’s in the best interests of all parties. “But I want to make it clear my decision has nothing whatsoever to do with the current situation at Rangers. It was purely about myself and Clyde.” Ferguson took over at Broadwood three years ago but has been unable to guide them out of the SPFL’s bottom tier. He lost the promotion play-off final to Queen’s Park last season after finishing third and has left Clyde, who slipped into eighth following their 11th defeat of the 2016/17 campaign to Annan.
A statement from the club read:“The board has today reluctantly accepted the resignation of first-team manager, Barry Ferguson. “Despite a welcome run in the William Hill Scottish Cup, which ended with an agonising defeat to Championship side Ayr United in a replay, both the manager and the club were disappointed with the recent poor run of league results, often not reflecting the effort and standard of play, which culminated in the defeat at Annan.
“That result leaves the club with only an outside chance of achieving the objective of securing a play-off place and then promotion to League One.
“The club would like to thank Barry for his unstinting commitment to the job over the last two and a half years and wishes him every success in the future.”
The Bully Wee were set to host Montrose at Broadwood last night (Tuesday) after the Reformer had gone to print, with Ferguson’s assistant Bob Malcolm expected to take charge of the side.