Ayr United chase former Dundee double act

Jan 28 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

BRIAN REID wants a former Dundee double act to see Ayr over the line to the championship.

Jim Lauchlan and Eric Paton have been training at Somerset for the past week.

And the United gaffer is desperate to add them to a squad that is creaking at the seams.

Reid said: “I have spoken to the Board and they know that I need to add a couple of players.”

With Andy Rodgers facing at least two weeks out with a hamstring strain, Ayr have lost another of their key players.

Dean Keenan and Bobby Donnelly are long term crocks while Alan Trouten has missed the last two games but could return for Saturday’s visit of Stenhousemuir.

Stuart Bannigan’s loan from Partick has been extended until the end of the season.

But with other loans Danny McKay, Scott Taggart and Stephen Reynolds back at their clubs, numbers are thin.

Reid sees the addition of experienced duo Lauchlan and Paton as crucial as the team faces the prospect of playing two games a week.

Lauchlan, 33, has recently been with Sligo Rovers. He was Dundee’s player of the year last season and has also played with Kilmarnock, Dundee United and Ross County.

Paton, 32, had his contract torn up at Dens when the club went into administration but played with Reid at Queen of the South.

Reid said: “Eric is a class act and would be a top notch addition for us. He can play right back, right midfield or centre midfield and is comfortable anywhere.

“I could have used him as a trialist against Peterhead last weekend but it wouldn’t have been fair to disrupt the team which had done so well against Hibs.

“Jim is an excellent experienced player who has looked very good at training.”

Reid is delighted to have secured Bannigan until May and has urged other youngsters to use him as a yardstick.

He said: “He is only a young boy but has been terrific for us. I watched our under 19s reach the quarter-finals of the Youth Cup on Sunday and they know that I will give youngsters a chance if they are good enough.

“Age is irrelevant but the kids have to earn the right to step up.”

Meanwhile, Reid has urged his defence to cut out the howlers that cost them a point against Peterhead.

Ayr looked set to make it six clean sheets in a row when they led with two Mark Roberts penalties at half-time.

But the Blue Toon hit back after the break for an unlikely point.

Reid said: “Both goals we lost came from throw-ins which we didn’t defend properly. Maybe I’m a perfectionist but we have to cut out these mistakes.

“But I can’t be too hard because the players have put in a great effort over the last few weeks and if that continues we will be fine.

“We didn’t have to do anything spectacular to see out the game after going 2-0 up so it’s annoying that we let it slip.”

Ayr are 8/13 to beat Stenny who are 10/3. The draw is 11/4 with McBookie.com

Ayr are 13/8 to be winning at half time and at full time while 18 goal Roberts is 7/2 to score first.