Building for the long term

CLYDE boss Stuart Millar says he is building a squad for the long term, not just next season.

The new manager had all his players together for the first time on Saturday for the start of pre-season training.

He said: "As a club we're trying to rebuild and we're looking beyond next season. Sometimes progress can happen too quickly, we've got to make sure the foundations are there and everyone is committed.

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"I was delighted with the players' attitude on Saturday, I was really pleased with how they had looked after themselves. They all blended together well - that's important. You have to have a good spirit and the same aim of being successful. It's now about how we take that forward."

At the moment only 13 players have signed contracts however, eight trialists joined in on the first day of pre-season and a further three players are considering contract offers.

The Bully Wee's first competitive game of the season will be away to Partick Thistle in the Challenge Cup on July 24.

One final friendly against Scottish champions Rangers has been scheduled for August 4 at Broadwood.

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League business for Millar's side will then kick-off on August 7 with a home tie against Stranraer.

The head coach joked: "I knew we would get Stranraer first, it had to be my old club. It's supposed to be a computer that sets the fixtures but it's amazing what a computer knows!"

He added: "Really, I'm not fussed who we get first and who we get last. I look at the list as a whole – we've got three out of our first league games at home. I would prefer two and two because you'll suffer for that later in the season – three of our last four are away.

"We've got some tough games in between like Elgin away on Boxing Day, that's a tough one because we can't ask the boys to stay overnight up there on Christmas night.

"We're not shouting from the rooftops what we're going to do. We're just trying to build a strong squad of players. Once the season starts, I can assure you, we will be ready."