Gareth Wardlaw back at Ayr Utd

Jun 18 2008 Ayrshire Post

GARETH Wardlaw is heading back to Ayr...only three months after leaving Somerset Park.

And popular striker Gaz is set for a warm welcome when his new club Raith Rovers visit Ayr on the first day of the season, Saturday August 2.

Wardlaw was on holiday in Cyprus on Monday when he got news of the opening day fixture.

He revealed: “I got a text from Lachlan Cameron (the Ayr chairman) saying he would see me sooner than expected.

“It’s uncanny the way it has worked out for I have a real soft spot for Ayr after they gave me a massive chance after signing me from amateur football. It will good to go back and see so many old faces again but I never expected to be returning so soon.”

Gaz, who was combining his holiday by marrying sweetheart Ashley, is itching to lead the Rovers attack.

Raith will be title favourites after being the only team to retain a core of full-time players.

And they will provide a stiff test as Ayr try to get off to a league flier.

Looking to get off the mark as an Honest Man will be Ryan Borris who made the opposite move from Raith. He, too, will relish the chance to star against his old mates.

Ayr hit the road to Alloa on Saturday August 9 before entertaining newly promoted Arbroath a week later.

There are no games on Saturdays September 6 and October 11 as Scotland have crunch World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Norway on these dates.

But Challenge Cup ties have been pencilled in for both Sundays.

Ayr will also be on Sunday action on September 21 when they host Brechin. That has been put back 24 hours to avoid a clash with the Ayr Gold Cup.

There are no midweek dates over Christmas and New Year. Ayr will entertain Queen’s Park on Saturday December 27 before heading to newly promoted Stranraer for a derby on January 3.

Ayr will close the season on May 9 with a long trip to Peterhead, which is also their destination the Saturday before Christmas.