Voice of Reason: 12 November 2009

Nov 13 2009 Ayrshire Post (main ed)

FAIR to say times have been better.

But the VoR ain’t coming to this party to sit in the corner.

Our three team mini league remains as thrilling as any in Scotland.

And we’re only two points off the top.

So title success looms large and a victory over Ross County this Saturday could send us top.

Always look on the bright side of life, as they say.

I see K*llie have found a strange way to make money.

Chairman Michael Johnston is now fining players for getting booked.

Suppose it will go some way to plugging the club’s gaping £10 million debt.

But some of his raging squad are paid so little that they can’t afford the fines.

And reports say it’s all out war between dressing room and boardroom.

Always good to spare a thought for those less fortunate than ourselves.

A landmark moment hasarrived for the world of gambling.

Ayr’s favourite bookie has taken his last bet and is now retired to stud.

George Blaikie was a legend to Hope Street punters visiting his Ladbrokes establishment.

A scandalous bit of admin took him up town for the last few months of his career.

But he always remained the punter’s pal.

Now Blaikie has come the other side of the counter after 25 years in the game.

And he signed off in style, bringing up a £50 treble for his betting club at the Wee Windaes boozer.

A very sweet £256, thank you very much.

Now it’s time to bash the boys he once called colleagues.

WELL it’s all gone down in X Factor land this week.

The Jedward were, quite rightly, protected by Simon Cowell on Sunday night.

And why all the shock? This is the smartest man in pop we’re dealing with.

The man who hand picked J&E for this show in the first place.

He knows ratings would suffer without the show’s biggest act.

No shocks for the VoR, who predicted all this way back on October 7.

I wrote: “The longer John and Edward are in, the better. And you can bet your bottom dollar Cowell and his ITV boys know it.”

Thank you folks. I’ll be here all week.

THE demise of racing king Iain Ferguson continues at pace over in betting corner.

Sad, really, to see a once inspiring individual reduced to a lumbering also-ran.

But second rate he is, trailing by a mammoth four points to yours truly.

I’ll be engaging third gear sometime in the new year, by the way.

This week, a desperate Fergie opts for Inverness 4, Airdrie 0.

Expect him to pull up trees at next year’s bravery awards with that one.

I’ll go for a spicy Norwich 2, Tranmere 1.