Ayr United boss backs golden oldie Steve Bowey

Feb 19 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

BRIAN REID has backed golden oldie Steve Bowey to be an Ayr hit and reckons young gun Danny McKay has goals in waiting.

The United gaffer swooped for the new faces as his weather beaten squad face playing 17 games in a hectic 70 days.

Bowey, 35, has joined from English non league side Bedlington Terriers until the end of the season.

And 18-year-old Kilmarnock kid McKay has been signed on a 93 day emergency loan.

Reid insists Bowey’s advancing years doesn’t bother him and added: “Age is no concern. Steve will be one of the fittest guys in our team and, if anything, I’ll have to ask him to train less.

“Bowser is fitter than guys who are 15 or 20 years younger. We played a bounce game on Saturday and he was getting from box to box.

“He’s a great talker, was captain of Queen of the South and has a decent scoring record. His energy and enthusiasm brushes off on others and I’m confident he will be a great signing.

“I played until I was nearly 37 and was alongside him at Queens so I know what he is all about.”

Bowey will travel from his Newcastle home to train with Ayr on Wednesday evenings. He will then return south beforereporting back for Saturday action.

He almost joined Ayr in the summer after impressing in pre-season training butdecided to stay south because of work commitments.

Reid revealed: “I kept in touch with Bowser and am delighted that he has had a change of heart. He has now decided to give it a go and can’t wait to get started.”

Meanwhile, Reid believes teenager McKay will give Ayr a goal threat and fresh legs as they face a horror run of games.

He said: “He’s a big, strong lad and is a decent prospect. He will give us something a wee bit different and showed up well in the weekend bounce game.”

Reid was left bitterly frustrated after last Saturday’s game was frozen off after a 9.30am inspection, Ayr’s fifth home call-off this season.

Dundee had insisted on the early pitch check but Reid claimed conditions were perfect, and even on the soft side, when they played a lunchtime bounce game.

He claimed: “At noon, there was a 15 foot patch in from the stand that was hard but by 1pm it was totally playable.”

Ayr have still to find dates for home games against Partick, Airdrie, Raith and Dundee while the match at Morton has also to be re-scheduled.

And they already have a midweek game at home to Ross County on Wednesday, March 24.

It means a frightening fixture schedule which will test Ayr’s resources to the full.