United take a break

Oct 10 2007 Ayrshire Post

BOSS Neil Watt will give Ayr United players the weekend off and tell them to come back refreshed for a home double header.

And he hopes the break caused by Scotland’s Euro 2008 clash against Ukraine will allow his men to clear up niggling injuries before facing Ross County and Brechin.

Watt feels his men desperately need a break after a gruelling schedule which took them to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.

He said: “We have had players carrying niggling injuries but still battling on.

“Eddie Forrest has been carrying a knock while Murray Henderson had a tole nail removed on Monday. Stephen Swift has also had a niggly achilles.

“I’m delighted that there is now an international break — I wish there were a few more of them as it will do everyone a lot of good.”

Ayr’s squad has been reduced to the bones in recent games, so much that under 19 kids Alistair Woodburn and Paul Fletcher had to fill the bench against Dunfermline after answering an emergency call.

With the transfer window shut, only the loan market remains open and Watt reveals he has feelers out.

But he admits it’s difficult to attract a higher league player without the promise of a regular starting place.

Watt says: “Lending clubs want players who go out on loan to play every week and that can be difficult.

“So far, we have played 19 games, including five pre-season matches, with a squad of 20.

“Now that two cups are out of the way, we are playing only once a week so we have to ask ourselves if we really need extra bodies.

“I have gone for a tight, close squad who are all working well as a group and each one is capable of playing in the first team.”