BUDGIE McGHIE insists it won't be a disaster if his Clydebank side fail to retain their Euroscot Central League Cup crown.

The seasoned boss has not given up hope of getting his hands on the silverware for a remarkable fourth time in seven years, but admits his priority is trying to stave off the threat of relegation currently hanging over the Bankies, entrenched at the foot of the Super Premier Division with just six games left to play.

The 54-year-old said: "Finishing in fourth-bottom spot would be an achievement that would easily eclipse winning the Euroscot trophy again, and I'm sure just about every Clydebank supporter shares my way of thinking.

"Right now we have set our sights on picking up four wins from our run in fixtures, but it could be less, or even more, depending on results involving the other teams in the basement mix.

"To lose our top-flight status after the upward spiral we've enjoyed since coming into the Juniors is something I just cannot contemplate, however I'm glad to have the chance to get a break from the pressure of chasing points."

A depleted Bankies - injury rules out Phil Barclay, Ross Harvie and Johnny Allan, while David McWilliams is unavailable through work commitments - face a tough first defence of their Euroscot crown away to Glencairn today.

Budgie revealed: "The Glens are on the crest of a wave after posting wins over two Scottish Cup quarter-finalists - Pollok and Yoker - in recent weeks, so I took the precaution of watching their win against Largs last week.

"Willie Harvey has his players doing more right than wrong and we are expecting a tough time of it, especially with their strikers Dennis McLaughlin and Ross McNeil on song and showing an eye for goal.

"I'd have liked our Queen's Park loan signing McWilliams to curb their scoring threat, but he has recently joined the Police force and is going to miss a lot of games as well as training sessions.

"But Austin McCann played his first game in months in last week's 1-0 friendly defeat by Kilsyth,s and another major boost comes from Tommy Martin returning."

Glens gaffer Willie Harvey believes it's no coincidence the comeback of one-time Hearts striker McLaughlin following a near two-year injury absence has brought an upturn in Glencairn's results.

He revealed: "A recent awful spell saw us take just one point from a possible 15, yet we didn't deserve to lose in any of the games.

"That might seem an over-the-top comment, but the clear-cut goalscoring opportunities we passed up simply had to be seen to be believed, so it's a huge boost to now have the classy Dennis and his cutting edge to call on.

"He has made a massive contribution since coming back despite being in the early throes of building up his match fitness levels, so he will only get better the more games he plays.

"Another decision we made on the playing front was to inject a bit of experience into what is a very young Glens line-up, and we have not looked back since the likes of Brian Welsh, Dean Muir and Ross Ballantyne have figured in our starting line-up.

"Keeping our winning run going will be a big ask as this is a competition that brings out the best in Clydebank and nothing less than a top-notch performance is needed."

Missing out on the opportunity to face his former team-mates is Glens centre-back Marc Russell, whose red card in last week's defeat of Largs incurred a one-match ban.

Last season's beaten finalists, Cumbernauld, are fancied to get through at home to East Kilbride, while another intriguing contest goes ahead in Govan where McKenna Park hosts the showdown of St Anthony's and St Roch's.

Meanwhile, rapid progress has been made by newly-formed Junior outfit Gartcairn, whose submitting a request to play in the Central Second Division next season led to SJFA chiefs carrying out a midweek inspection of their intended home pitch at the MTC synthetic Astro-grass facility in Airdrie.

So confident are the newcomers of their application being passed that they have already appointed a management team of former Newmains United duo Billy McKie and Gary Johnstone.

TODAY'S FIXTURES

New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup second round: Vale of Leven v Arthurlie, Greenock v Yoker.

Euroscot Eng Central League Cup first round: Cumbernauld Utd v East Kilbride Thistle, Port Glasgow v Blantyre Vics, Rossvale v Pollok, Maryhill v Neilston, Rutherglen Glencairn v Clydebank. Second round: Ashfield v Shettleston, St Anthony's v St Roch's, Carluke Rovers v Newmains Utd, Cambuslang Rangers v Wishaw, Benburb v Glasgow Perthshire, Rob Roy v Johnstone Burgh (Keanie Park).

Ayrshire Cup first round: Kilwinning Rangers v Darvel, Craigmark v Kilbirnie Ladeside. Second round: Kello Rovers v Ardeer Thistle, Winton Rovers v Lugar Boswell, Troon v Whitletts Vics, Muirkirk v Annbank Utd, Auchinleck Talbot v Irvine Meadow, Hurlford Utd v Girvan.

Stagecoach League Super Premier Division: Beith v Cumnock.

Super First Division: Kilsyth Rangers v Maybole, Irvine Vics v Largs Thistle.

Central First Division: Lesmahagow v Bellshill Athletic, Dunipace v Renfrew.