ANGRY Ardrossan Winton Rovers boss Bryan Slavin is planning to appeal the red-carding of utility player Steven Tan in Saturday's clash with Annbank United.

And he admits the 2-2 draw at home to Annbank United has left them facing an uphill struggle to secure promotion to next season's Championship.

The midfielder/forward was sent off for a challenge just before the interval and his dismissal left the Ardrossan side facing an uphill struggle against improving Bankies, who have picked up following the appointment of former Lugar Boswell Thistle boss Keith Stewart as their manager.

Slavin said: "We started off really well and went 1-0 up with a good goal. I feel the sending off was a really harsh decision as there was absolutely no malice in the challenge and hardly any connection was made. I think we we will appeal the decision and hopefully can win the case. The sending off cost us any real chance of winning the game and made it so difficult for us, although even with 10 men I felt we were the better side."

Asked to assess his team's chances of going up Slavin, who took charge in October following the resignation of Sandy MacLean said: "Really promotion is out of our hands now. We will have to hope that some results go our way and aim to win the rest of our games."

Winton are a point behind leaders Irvine Victoria, who have four games in hand and just one clear of Maybole and Craigmark Burntonians, who have one game and four games in hand respectively. Whitletts Victoria and Dalry Thistle, who are seven points behind them, have four and eight games in hand respectively.

Meanwhile, Winton have been given a huge boost as former skipper Ryan Caddis has returned to the club until the end of the season.

The midfielder/forward left at the end of last season to take on a playing and coaching role with East Ayrshire team Onthank Amateurs. However he returned to the club last week.

Caddis came off the bench in the Annbank game on Saturday.

Slavin is delighted to have the ex-Ayr United player on board and said: "It's great to have Ryan here for the rest of the season. He knows the club and adds so much quality to the squad. He has a lot of experience in the game. Ryan will have to work on his match fitness but I'm sure he will do well for us."