IT'S the biggest town in Scotland not to have its own professional football club - but East Kilbride could soon have TWO professional teams.

Clyde FC are in talks to move to the town, at the same time as amateur outfit East Kilbride Football Club continue their quest to be playing in the top-flight leagues by 2015.

Third Division outfit Clyde have been based at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld since 1994, but never captured the imagination of the new town and still draw the majority of their support from the South Side of Glasgow.

EKFC are based at K Park in Calderglen Country Park and were formed in 2010 by the merger of Stewartfield FC and Jackton Boys Club with the intention of becoming the town's first ever SFL club.

But they could be beaten to the chase if Clyde's proposed move to Junior outfit East Kilbride Thistle's Showpark ground goes ahead.

MSP for East Kilbride, Linda Fabiani, said: "I know that when Clyde first decided to move to Cumbernauld that there were calls for them to come to East Kilbride instead, as many of the club's original supporters moved to the town.

"Equally, if the proposal to turn a club such as EKFC into a professional team was

to become reality it would be an exciting development for the town."

Clyde fans are buzzing about the club's proposed move to the Showpark, just a 15-minute drive from their spiritual home of Rutherglen.

Eric Steel, of the Clyde Supporters Association in Castlemilk, Glasgow said: "East Kilbride is a much better base for the club than Cumbernauld.

"The club never got much support from Cumbernauld and most fans would love us to move back to the south of Glasgow.

"If Rutherglen was not going to be a possibility, then East Kilbride is not a bad alternative it's no more than six miles from Shawfield."

Talks are under way with Thistle and South Lanarkshire Council which could see Clyde move to the Showpark on a permanent basis.

The Bully Wee was based at Shawfield from 1898 to 1986 before short spells at Partick Thistle's Firhill and Hamilton's Douglas Park.

Clyde say they aim to redevelop the Showpark.

A statement on the club's website says: "The site will be able to host an SFL-compliant stadium and other sporting activities."

It is understood East Kilbride Thistle's future will be safe, in the event that Clyde do move, and that they will continue to play at the Showpark if the move goes ahead.

stef.lach@heraldandtimes.co.uk

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