The consortium fighting to save Clydebank from takeover have been given a Monday deadline to raise the funds needed to preserve the club's Scottish League status.

The writing appeared to be on the wall for the Bankies when the SFL's management committee approved in principle a bid to take control of the Second Division club by Jim Ballantyne's proposed Airdrie United.

However, the administrator attending to the beleaguered club has been informed that the United Clydebank Supporters group has the ability to come up with the �160,000 needed to for their favourites to continue in their present guise.

Administrator Bryan Jackson of PKF told the Scotsman: "The Clydebank people are trying to put the funds together to come in and retain Clydebank as a club. I have now set a deadline of close of business on Monday for them to do that.

"I am still progressing with the Airdrie United bid for Clydebank at the moment, but there are a few administrative and technical problems to overcome before it can be completed.

"No-one has preferred bidder status but, as we speak, I would say the Airdrie United bid is still the front-runner. Having said that, I have no doubt about how genuine the intentions are of the Clydebank people and they are trying hard to come up with the necessary finance.

"My agenda is simply to get a dividend back to Clydebank's creditors."