Fergie's the man for Clyde new boy Johnston

The 25-year-old decided he needed a fresh challenge in the summer after playing just over 100 games for Stirling Albion.

And he insists that once he knew the Rangers legend was interested, his decision was a no-brainer.

Johnston said: “I get on really well with him. He’s one of the reasons that I came here. The way he runs the club, and how professional things are – as soon as I met Barry and got involved in training it felt like a full-time team pretty much.

“It’s really, really enjoyable. He works us hard and expects pretty high standards. but it’s a good atmosphere to be around.

“We’re there to play under him and obviously we have a high respect for what he’s done in the game. He was different class, but at the end of the day he’s the manager and you listen to him. If you don’t do what he tells you then he’ll tell you to get the finger out.”

Moreover, having just missed out on promotion to Ladbrokes League One last season, Johnston insists promotion has to be Clyde’s primary target this season – and reckons they have the tools to achieve it.

He added: “I think promotion has to be the aim, especially considering the squad we’ve got and coming off the back of how close Clyde came to promotion last season.

“We’ve put expectations on ourselves and we want to be right up there, and rightly so.

“It’s a really good squad that’s been built. It’s a really impressive mix of experienced guys and younger boys coming through. We’ve got a lot of energy, a lot of pace, and the boys have a lot of ability, especially for this level.

“So it’ a really good mix we’ve got. I’ve played in a lot of good teams, but this is definitely up there with the best.”

Clyde continue their push for promotion at home to Arbroath on Saturday and remain second favourites to lift the title come May at 10/3, just behind Forfar at 2/1.