Ayr United are on weather watch for Sunday return

Dec 31 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

BOSS Brian Reid is on weather watch, praying that milder conditions will spark Ayr back into action.

United are due to bring in the New Year with the visit of Dumbarton on Sunday.

But Somerset Park needs sustained warmer temperatures to bring it out of the deep freeze.

By coincidence, Ayr’s last league action was against the Sons away back on November 13.

Jonathan Tiffoney, sent off with an hour to go in the 3-2 defeat, has still to serve his one game ban... but will if Sunday survives.

Reid said: “Decisions went against us that day. They had a penalty that wasn’t a penalty and then we were denied a good one ourselves.

“It’s incredible we haven’t played in the league since then. But fortunately, results since we have been idle have gone for us.”

Reid watched Alloa draw 2-2 withLivingston on Boxing Day, a result that did the Honest Men favours.

Third top Ayr trail leaders Livvy by five points but with a game in hand. Andalthough they head Alloa only on goal difference they have played three games less.

Reid said: “Alloa have kept playingbecause of their all weather pitch and looked sharper in the first-half.

“Livingston looked out of sorts early on because they haven’t been playing but they fought back well after the interval.

“The fact we haven’t played for so long is an obvious worry for me.”

Stephen Reynolds has now returned to St Johnstone with his loan deal over.

Fellow loans Danny McKay, Scott Taggart and Stuart Bannigan are all available for Sunday but not for much longer.

Taggart returns to Hibs on January 5 while Bannigan is due back at Partick after the Scottish Cup trip to Easter Roadalthough Reid hopes there is a chance it could be extended. McKay’s loan switch from Kilmarnock expires in mid January.

Reid said: “When the loans go back, we are going to be short and it won’t be possible to run the team with what will be left.

“We need to bring others in, including a striker, but I am working on a few positions right now.”

Kilmarnock defender Gavin Brown, who is soon a free agent, is training at Somerset and has played in a couple of bounce games against junior teams.

But ideally, Reid would like to assess him against better quality opposition.

The United boss will watch cup opponents Hibs take on Hearts on New Year’s Day as the build-up continues for the eagerly awaited tie on January 8.

Hibs are currently on the crest of a slump, having won only twice in nine games since Colin Calderwood replaced John Hughes at the start of November.

More than 700 Ayr tickets have been snapped up at the club shop for the cup tie. The shop is open noon to 5pm (Wednesday and Thursday), 9am to 1pm (Friday) and 9.30am to 5.15pm (Sunday if game is on).

A 25 per cent off sale starts on Sunday.

A second bus is now leaving the River Cottage for Easter Road, departing at 10.30am. Seat, price £10, from 287923.