MARK MCLAUGHLIN hopes he can play his part in making Barry Ferguson's dreams a reality after clinching his Clyde return this week.

The defender has penned a deal with the Bully Wee after leaving Dumbarton and has been impressed with Ferguson's vision for the future at Broadwood.

The Bully Wee are currently eighth in the League Two standings as they have struggled to hit a sustained run of form in Ferguson's first campaign in the dugout.

A fourth tier play-off spot is still within their grasps this term, though, as they look for a much improved second half of the season.

And McLaughlin is confident Ferguson and right hand man Bob Malcolm can turn around their fortunes and spark a Cumbernauld revival.

He said: "I had a few options but Clyde is a club I was at for years and I loved my time here.

"I liked what the gaffer had to say, what his plans were and his ambitions for the club.

"There is a challenge here. It's not a case of just coming in at the other end of my career, it is a case of coming in, facing a challenge and trying to get this club back up the leagues. That is something I'm looking forward to and hopefully we can do it.

"I liked what Barry and Bob had to say - it wasn't a case of 'We want you to come in and sign' and that was it, they had a plan to try and get the club up the leagues. They were talking about the future of the club and it wasn't just a case of looking at the next six months.

"They have a plan in place and that intrigued me and made me think about dropping down a level. It will also be fitting if I do finish my career here, as it is back at my first senior club.

"The gaffer wants to get the club back to where it once was; back to the Championship. It's going to be hard, it's never easy to get up the divisions but it is something him and Bob are keen to do, as am I."

McLaughlin spent five years with Clyde at the start of his career and helped them into the second tier of Scottish football before he went on to enjoy a successful spell with Hamilton Accies.

The former Morton and Sons stopper becomes the latest experienced addition to Ferguson's squad following the captures of Hugh Murray and Steven McDougall earlier this month.

And the 39-year-old is confident Clyde are on the right track as he eyes a second Bully Wee bow against Arbroath tomorrow afternoon.

"I was very impressed with the set up," McLaughlin told Clyde's official website.

"Hopefully I can help them progress and climb the table.

"The gaffer has obviously also signed Steven McDougall and Shuggy Murray which for me are two great signings.

"I was very impressed with the standard. The boys work their socks off but, speaking to Bob and the gaffer, there is maybe a lack of confidence and experience when they go a goal behind and that is up to myself, Shug and Dougs to try and change the mentality and help the boys to keep fighting after a setback."