FERGUSON AIMS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE

BARRY FERGUSON aims to be a leader on and off the park in his bid to spark a Broadwood revival as new player-manager of Clyde. The former Scotland and Rangers captain turned down the chance to remain playing in the English Championship in order to take over at the Cumbernauld club after Jim Duffy left for Morton. The 36-year-old, who narrowly kept Blackpool in England’s second tier after three months as caretaker boss, now hopes to lead by example and mastermind Clyde’s promotion from League Two next season. ‘When I met Clyde they wanted me to be manager, but one of the questions was would I play,’ said Ferguson. ‘I’m fit enough to play so I’ll do pre-season and see how it goes. ‘I could have played another season or two at a higher level, but this opportunity came about and I felt it was right to go for it. ‘I got offers to keep playing in the Championship in England, in League One in England and also from abroad, but after speaking to Clyde I knew this was for me. ‘When I was younger, Clyde were always up a few divisions and they’ve been languishing in the bottom tier too long. ‘The board have the ambition to go through the divisions. I don’t want to go in and be happy with a play-off place. We’ve got to be positive and try to get promoted.’ Ferguson has played under a Who’s Who of managers including Dick Advocaat, Graeme Souness, Alex McLeish, and Walter Smith. So, as he tries to make his mark at Broadwood, he will have no problem phoning a famous friend for advice. ‘I played under some fantastic managers in my time and I had no qualms about picking up the phone when I was at Blackpool,’ he said. ‘If I can add three or four players and work hard with them in training, then we’re not far away from being a good team. ‘We only train on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I know some of the boys work, but I’m going to try to get them for another night a week.’