WATT MAKES FIRST CATCH

Mar 28 2007 Ayrshire Post

NEW Ayr boss Neil Watt has wasted no time in stamping his mark by making his first signing.

And he will throw on-loan Livingston striker Paul Shields into the fray for Saturday’s trip to Peterhead, his first match in charge.

The former Celtic kid, a one time £100,000 buy from Raith, penned a one month deal on Monday and then scored in a 3-0 win over Albion Rovers in a bounce match at Somerset later in the day. Ryan Stevenson and Andy McLaren were also on target.

Watt says he can’t wait to get the ball out for real and is savouring an away double header which sees Ayr follow the trip to Peterhead with a game against Raith on Tuesday evening.

He said: “We’ve a lot to cram into a short time. I had watched Ayr against Forfar and Alloa before I got the job and then took my first training session at Somerset on Saturday morning.

“There is an enthusiasm among the players and they all look eager. All managers want a good start and we’ll set out for Peterhead on Friday night aiming to apply ourselves and then the result will take care of itself.

“I learned one or two things in the bounce game on Monday when 18 players were involved at some stage.”

Landing Shields, 25, was second time lucky for the new gaffer who had tried and failed to lure him to Stranraer who he led to back to back promotions.

Watt said: “I knew his background from Celtic and he is a player I rate very highly. He went to a few clubs before scoring goals at Forfar who sold him to Gillingham before he returned north. I have been looking around to see who is available in the striking areas as we are quite short there with Gareth Wardlaw still getting treatment.”

The United chief, who has taken trusted lieutenant Stuart Millar with him to Somerset Park, will call on all his experience from 30 years in football.

Watt and Millar have signed part-time contracts to May 2009 by which time they aim to have Ayr installed in the First Division.

Watt, 44, said: “There is a clear and simple plan to lead the club forward. A town like Ayr deserves First Division football and that is the challenge which lies before me. Here is a squad that people tell me is good enough but whether that is right only time will tell.”

Watt says his ten month exile from the game has left him hungry to return.

He revealed he had turned down offers from elsewhere but found a spark in his discussions with the Ayr board which impressed him.

Watt said: “Even although Stuart and I have been out of football, we have kept in close touch with the game as we anticipated our return.”

He slipped into Somerset unnoticed to watch them battle back for a 4-3 win over Alloa and was

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