AMBITIOUS Kilwinning Rangers boss Chris Strain is hoping to sign a talented teenage defender from Ladbrokes Premiership club St Mirren.

Mark Barrowman (I9) is a regular in the Paisley team's Under-20 side and was previously with Celtic as a youngster.

Strain told Sporttimes: "Mark is captain of the Under-20 side and played a couple of games for the first team. He is a good young player who gives us options as he can play anywhere down the left. We are in discussions with St Mirren and hopefully we can sort something out by the end of the week."

Buffs on Saturday play Cumbernauld United away in the New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup Third Round.

Strain is expecting a tough test and said: "We beat them 3-0 earlier in the season in the league but they gave us a tough game and they are a good side. But our form in the league and cups has been very good and hopefully we can get a result and reach the quarter-finals."

The Buffs boss will give some game time to some of the players who have not been regular starters.

Meanwhile Irvine Meadow winger Gary McCann is hoping his side can boost their survival hopes with victory away to leaders Pollok on Saturday.

Basement side Meadow have just four points from nine games and McCann says they could need seven wins from the remaining 13 matches to stay up.

The Meadow playmaker said: "Hopefully the West of Scotland win against Johnstone Burgh will give us confidence. It was good to score five goals although we conceded four. Pollok are going very well but we will be up for it and must look to win the match. I think we will need 25 points to stay up but we have a good squad and hopefully we can do it."

Manager Davie Greig added: "Newlandsfield Park is a daunting place to go. We are going out to win the match or at least take something from it."

Irvine Victoria manager Stevie Wilson hopes his side keep getting regular fixtures in the next few weeks as they have no competitive game this weekend. Vics have instead arranged a friendly away to Glasgow Perthshire on Saturday, ko 2pm.

Wilson said: "We have played 14 games which is the most in the league but I hope we know soon what our next few games are and we get Saturday matches and not too many midweek fixtures. We shouldn't be penalised for having so many games on."

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