Cowboy’s Up for the Cup

John McCormack spoke to the official website this evening, after Thursday night training at Broadwood.

The Clyde first team coach will take charge of the team for Saturday’s Livingston match, supported by director of football Neil Watt.

“I’ve been asked to take training and also take the team on Saturday,” John said. “Neil will help me – he wanted to make sure I had backup and that’s important. It was an uncertain start to the week for me, but the club have asked me to stay on as first team coach and I’m delighted.

“I’m not looking any further than Saturday at the moment. I’ll do my best to get Clyde into the draw for the next round and then take things from there. I understand that the club has big decisions to make.”

The big Scottish Cup match was clearly at the forefront of his thoughts as he dried off after another wild night in Cumbernauld…

“Training was wet but good! The players were alive and sharp. I wanted to get a few points across ahead of Saturday and I think I’ve done that.

“Every player in the squad will get a chance to impress as we go, but I don’t envisage wholesale changes. I have a way I like to play and I will be doing that within the personnel we have at the club. It’s important that the players are comfortable in their roles and aren’t asked to do anything they aren’t capable of.

“I’ve loved the Cup all through my career and Saturday will be no different. The boys will know in no uncertain terms how I feel and how important the game is – for them as individuals but for the club as well.

“Putting that aside, we have to make sure we can entertain people, create more chances than we have been and match a full-time team. I believe our players can do that and, if we can find some consistency after that, climb the league as well.

“Football is about entertainment. If a player gets into an area of the park where they can take a gamble then they’ve got to go for it. I love to see players shooting from everywhere, crosses coming in, saves by the ‘keeper, goal-line clearances… we don’t see enough of that now.”

Despite his obvious enthusiasm, John was well aware how difficult a task it would be to overcome the Third Division leaders…

“I saw Livi earlier in the season and I’ve got a report on them from Saturday and Tuesday. They’ve got good players and we’ve talked about them but it will be down to the Clyde players how things go for us. I want to see the correct attitude and manner that will give us a chance to match them.

“I’m really looking forward to it and I’ll make sure the players are ready to enjoy it as well.”