Balmer Talks

Stuart Balmer took some time out to speak exclusively to the Clyde website this evening. “It’s been a strange week but that’s been in keeping with the whole season! I first learnt of Billy’s intentions at the start of the week but it was only after Thursday’s training that the players learnt that the Club had decided for him to leave with immediate effect.”

The ex Charlton defender was pleased with the reaction of the players this morning, “Gary and myself led the training today and I was delighted with the way the players went about their business. It was a sharp session and we are all ready for tomorrow. It was good, as it could have gone the other way but the guys were in good spirits and not afraid to joke with me bearing the brunt of it!”

Sadly the injury crisis that Clyde have faced in recent weeks has not cleared up. “It’s likely that the team will be along similar lines to the Thistle game. Gary Bollan and Simon Mensing are definitely out alongside Gary Arbuckle. Graham Jones is facing a late fitness test”.

The acting boss was not ruling himself out of leading from the front tomorrow. “As well as Graham, I’ll also be having a fitness test on Saturday so hopefully I’ll be back. It’s been a very frustrating season for me personally. I broke my leg in the first game and have picked up a lot of niggling injuries after that so I haven’t played as much or as well as I had expected. This season has been strange. When I signed I was told that it would be a season-long struggle against relegation but the squad has performed magnificently. I would be extremely proud if we could get a positive result tomorrow.”

BBC reports had suggested that Stuart was negotiating to leave for Hamilton Accies, a story that is denied by Stuart. “The truth is Billy has not asked me. I count Billy as a friend but nothing is straight forward in football. This has been my first job in coaching and playing first team football in Scotland and now I find myself in a manager’s job all in the space of one season. I met with one of the Directors yesterday and will take the side until the end of the season. One thing is certain though is we are all focussed on getting maximum points tomorrow.”