Ayr United boss seeks loan defender

Feb 13 2009 by Mike Wilson

DETERMINED Ayr United boss Brian Reid is searching desperately for a loan signing to shore up his leaky defence.

And he is set to ring the changes for Saturday’s trip to East Fife with Martyn Campbell, David Gormley and Chris Aitken banging on the door.

Fifteen goal Bryan Prunty has recovered from groin surgery and will feature at some stage but Alex Williams is struggling with an ankle problem and is set to miss out.

Reid pledged to get tough after Ayr slumped to a shock 3-2 defeat at Alloa –- the second game in a row they have given their opponents a two goal start.

He spelled out his concerns at a Monday evening team meeting and stressed: “We have to stop giving goals away. The attitude and the commitment in the first-half at Alloa wasn’t good enough, especially when we have a championship to play for.”

Reid reveals he has not given up his search for a central defender after failing to bring someone in during the transfer window.

He said: “It hasn’t been for lack of trying but I’m still looking and have a couple in mind with a view to an emergency loan. However, it means you are relying on other teams to do you a favour.

“I had been thinking of a youth but now want some experience and a talker on the park to sort out our poor defending. January is never easy to bring in someone but the search has never stopped.”

Campbell’s absence with a thigh strain has caused a total reorganisation of the back division with Neil McGowan moving inside and Allan Dempsie switching from right to left-back. Five goals has been shipped in the last two games, including two controversial penalties at Alloa, and the defending unit has looked far from sure.

Reid said: “I believe we’ve given away eight penalties this season which probably equates to six or seven points so we have to learn from our mistakes.

“It’s becoming almost a non contact sport and while Dempsie didn’t need to foul his man for the second penalty, the tackle went in outside the box. It was a poor decision but we need to be more streetwise.

“We need to get back to earlier in the season when we were defending well but were fortunate to avoid injuries and suspensions.”

The big freeze permitting, Ayr head to East Fife on Saturday, looking to avenge a 3-0 defeat there earlier in the season. That’s followed by the visit of third top Brechin a week later.

Raith lead by five points with a game more played but Ayr have still to visit Kirkcaldy in a title crunch on March 14. Teams are stacking up behind Ayr with only four points separating Brechin, Stirling, East Fife and Peterhead.

The postponed game away to Stranraer is pencilled in for Sunday March 29 which is international weekend.

A midweek date in March has still to be found for the frozen off home game against Queen’s Park.