CLYDEBANK manager Gordon Moffat has revealed that his squad are playing for their futures at the club after they suffered their fourth defeat in a row on Saturday.

A catastrophic run of from at a crucial time of the season has left Bankies’ title hopes all but over with a number of teams ready to take advantage with their games in hand in the coming weeks.

It looked as if the visitors were about to stop the rot at Darvel and put a point on the board for the first time in three weeks after Kieran Hughes kept out Ross Caldwell’s penalty only for Craig Moore’s header to win it on 86 minutes.

The Holm Park side remain top of the league by five points, but the likes of Beith, St Cadoc’s, Darvel and Auchinleck Talbot could all overtake them in the coming weeks if they are successful with their games in hand.

Moff made six changes for Saturday’s contest in a bid to find the winning formula and whilst he admits it was a better showing than the Largs defeat last weekend, there is still plenty of work to be done.

Speaking to the Post, he said: “I don’t want to get too carried away with how improved the performance was because we still lost the game but it was a lot different to the week before, and it had to be. 

“You can’t change everybody and some of the guys were maybe slightly lucky to get a start again but you still need to pick a balanced team and a game plan so it’s natural some guys would stay in. 

“We had to see a reaction and I think the players did rise to it and were unfortunate not to come away with a point. With the way things have been in the last few weeks we get undone with a set play which is pretty sloppy. 

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“I thought we did well in the shape and looked solid off the ball but if we’re going to build on that again for this week we need to carry a bit more of a threat, which we haven’t done the last few weeks. 

“We hadn’t lost two games in a row until a few weeks ago and suddenly we’ve lost four and you can tell the players are finding it a bit strange and difficult but it’s gone on long enough now and we need to get it sorted pretty quickly. 

“We’ve got seven games left and we need to see an improvement in performances and how we are going to improve going into next season. 

“I’m already thinking about where we need to strengthen and the different types of players we might need for next season which is the ruthless side to the game but it’s my job to address that.”

Bankies return to Holm Park this weekend with relegation battling Troon their opponents and despite being at the wrong end of the table, Moff knows that their Ayrshire opponents will be up for it.

He added: “Troon are a very capable side with a fantastic coach and it’s not going to be an easy game. 

“They will be looking at our run of form and fancy coming for a win so were going to need to prepare and build on the positives from Saturday.” 

Kick-off on Saturday is at 2.00pm.