Scott Takes Pride in Leading Role

Scott McLaughlin has been named as Clyde captain in recent weeks and the experienced midfielder says it has been an honour taking on the role.

McLaughlin joined The Bully Wee from Ayr United in January, where he had also been captain, and speaking to the official website the 31-year-old midfielder said: “I’ve been captain at most of the teams I have been at but that doesn’t change the fact it is an honour being asked to captain a team.

“Obviously big Marko is our club captain but I have just taken over the duties while the big man has been injured and I enjoy the responsibility. I am quite vocal on the park and I try to get the best from those around me.”

McLaughlin’s latest outing as captain came during Saturday’s 1-0 loss against East Fife but, despite the result, the stand-in skipper’s spirits remain high. He continued: “It was a disappointing result but I didn’t think we played too badly. We created plenty of chances, it was just unfortunate on the day that we didn’t take them.

“If a time comes when we aren’t creating chances, that would be the time to worry but if we keep creating the chances we have got the boys in the team that will find the back of the net. I don’t think we have fully clicked into gear yet. We believe we are getting closer as a group, gelling a wee bit more and that can only be good for the season ahead.

“We have been working really hard and giving everything we can and if the punters see that then they will back us to the hilt. Sometimes the luck won’t go for us like last Saturday but the supporters saw the effort we had put in and clapped us off the park. I think they saw that we were just unlucky on the day.

“The fans have been great with us so far and I’m sure if they keep encouraging the boys in the way they have done so far then we will repay them on the pitch.”

McLaughlin endured a difficult spell when he first moved to Broadwood, breaking his arm shortly after completing his move. However, he has been ever-present in the opening nine games this season and is delighted to be playing an important role: “I have enjoyed the games because I had a bad start to my Clyde career when I broke my arm, so just getting back at the start of the season was brilliant – I was champing at the bit just to get into pre-season.

“I started off the season in a different role, playing in the holding role, but I am now managing to get up and down, box-to-box which has always been a strong part of my game.”

McLaughlin has not yet scored this season but revealed that he is looking to hit 10 goals himself and he is confident his attacking team mates will also hit the back of the net on a regular basis: “Hopefully I can get into double figures this season – I’ve not got off the mark yet but hopefully when I do it can be the first of a fair few.

“Gormz (David Gormley) got off the mark last week and with the work wee Archie has been putting in for the team he deserves a goal; I’m sure once that comes he will be firing but his overall contribution to the team has been excellent and I think that is the main thing for him. I’d be delighted for him to get a goal because of the way he’s been playing, he deserves it.”

This weekend the Bully Wee host Berwick Rangers and McLaughlin is preparing for another difficult 90 minutes. He concluded: “I don’t think there are any easy games but it is all about trying to put a run together ourselves – I think the team that goes on a steady run will be right up there at the end of the season so we need to make sure we win our home games and make sure that Broadwood is a hard, hard place to go.”