Ayr United set for Champions League test

Jun 19 2009 by Mike Wilson

DELIGHTED Brian Reid says Ayr United will never have had it tougher after lining up Champion’s League opposition for Somerset Park.

And with pre-season games against two SLP sides and plans for a training camp in Austria, it means an exciting start to the new campaign.

Ayr will kick off their First Division programme at home to Partick Thistle on Saturday, August 8 before heading toInverness a week later.

Boss Reid, who this week signed Dundee winger David O’Brien, quips: “No one can accuse us of taking easy games. I wanted something a bit different for pre-season and we’ve certainly got it.”

Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni, who are coached by former Chelsea star Dan Petrescu, will visit Ayr on Wednesday, July 15.

Urziceni, who played in last season's UEFA Cup, will go straight into the Champions League group stages.

Reid said: “It will certainly be an extremely tough test. The Romanians were looking for opposition and we fixed it up through an agent. It’s very early in our preparations but I hope we get a good crowd.”

Ayr report back for training a week on Saturday. And they expect to finalise details this week for a five day training camp in Austria from July 8.

They have friendlies at home to St Mirren on Saturday, July 18 and St Johnstone on Monday, July 20. First competitive games are at home to Albion Rovers in the Alba Cup on Saturday, July 25 and away to Stirling in the Co-op Cup on Saturday, August 1.

Meanwhile, Reid is still chasing four new faces after landing former Stirling winger O’Brien from Dundee on Monday. The 25-year-old can play on either flank but Reid sees him more left sided.

Ayr have only Willie Easton on the left hand side with ScottAgnew set to go back to his former club Alloa on loan.

Reid says: “David is a natural winger who will be a good signing for us. Wee Stan has done well for us on the left side but we need competition in every position and David will provide it.”

Reid is still chasing a goalkeeper while former Clyde captain Billy Gibson is a target for right-back.

A big striker, in the mould of St Mirren’s Jim Hamilton is being chased, but Reid fears he may be outbid for the experienced man of many clubs.

The boss is also keeping back a wild card.