Ayr United hatch full-time plan

Mar 19 2008 Ayrshire Post

AYR UNITED are planning to make full-time training available for their players next season.

They aim to beef up Monday and Wednesday evening sessions with extra stints on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

The bold plan could involve a group of first teamers being joined by kids from the under 19 team who would attend college in the afternoon.

Chairman Lachlan Cameron said: “Some of our players work either flexible hours or don’t have other jobs.

“The sessions would be extra to the evening training and it wouldn’t take away from the part-time players.

“We are looking to give ourselves a competitive edge and we feel that extra training will help us.”

Boss Brian Reid (pictured) reckons the scheme would give the club a huge boost.

He said: “When I started out at Morton, we had first team players working with YTS kids and it can only be helpful.”

Meanwhile, Dean Keenan wants to bow out from Ayr on a high but he hopes to see them again next season.

The hit midfielder's 93 day emergency loan from Morton expires this weekend when he will return to Cappielow.

But talks have already taken place about making a permanent move in the summer and Keenan admits the idea appeals.

He said: "Being here already and playing games helps the cause. It gives me reasons to come here as I know the place and the fans.

"I have enjoyed my loan stint and it has been good to come here and play regularly which I wasn't doing at Morton.

“I think my time there could be over so I'll be a free agent in the summer.

"The manager (Brian Reid) has already spoken to me and said he wants me next season but I am in no rush. I will sit down at the end of the season and assess what options I've got and see what happens.

"However, I have definitely enjoyed playing at Somerset Park where the fans are great. And it has been good playing alongside the likes of Ryan Stevenson and Paul Weaver. We've won the majority of games since I've been here so I have been quite happy."

Keenan was due to play against Airdrie United away on Wednesday night and then make his farewell appearance in Saturday's crunch home match against Cowdenbeath.

Keenan said: "We've got to keep fighting and taking three points off the league leaders over two games isn't bad. Now we have two massive games and ideally would like to win them both. However, if I could pick one of them it would be against Cowdenbeath so we can hopefully kill them off."

Reid confirmed he is desperate to make Keenan his first summer capture and revealed he had exhausted all avenues to extend the loan deal.

Good news for Ayr is that Andy McLaren, who damaged his cruciate ligament in August, joined in with the players at training on Monday.

Reid said: “Andy looked fine and still had a good touch but he is still a good few weeks away from a return. I don’t want to rush him back too soon.”

Iain Anderson has recovered from a rib injury but hurt his knee in his 18 minute appearance at Dingwall last week. He will miss Wednesday and Saturday.

Reid said: “We face two huge games and neither will be easy.”