Ayr vow to sign Dean Keenan

Mar 26 2008 Ayrshire Post

AYR UNITED tasted life without Dean Keenan when they played against him on Monday evening.

But manager Brian Reid has pledged to go all out to get him in an Ayr shirt next season.

Keenan, now back at Morton after his 93 day emergency loan deal, turned out against United in a Cappielow bounce match.

Reid has now drawn up a summer shopping list and Keenan, who will be a free agent, is at the top. Reid said: “Dean has been a great addition to the squad, in many cases doing the dirty jobs, making the challenges, taking the knocks, working hard for the team all over the pitch and when the opportunity has arisen, making some telling passes.

“His attitude and workrate makes him the exact type of player I want to bring to the club.”

Reid now has the difficult task of replacing Reid for Saturday’s trip to Alloa but admits his options are limited.

Iain Anderson is out with a knee injury while Colin Marshall has left the club.

Reid said: “With five games to go, everyone is playing for contracts. I am almost clear in my mind about what I want to do next season but there are still deals to be won.”

With numbers thin on the ground, assistant boss Scott McKenzie played 45 minutes in Monday night’s challenge match in a team that included some on trial youngsters.

And Andy McLaren continued his comeback from his cruciate ligament injury by playing the last 20 minutes.

Reid joked: “Scott came off on a stretcher lTurn to Page 127