Manager of the month Brian Reid reckons he’s cursed

Feb 18 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

BRIAN REID reckons he’s cursed after being named Irn-Bru manager of the month for January.

And the jinx struck again on Tuesday when the re-arranged trip to Brechin was washed out only five hours before kick-off.

The Ayr United gaffer hoped to celebrate the award by carrying on the hot form against league leaders Livingston.

But Ayr flopped badly as they crashed 3-0 for only their second home league defeat of the season. Reid said: “Any time I won the award before I always won my next game. But the curse struck big time on Saturday. We were lethargic and were as poor as I have ever seen us in the second-half. We need to pick ourselves up as we hadn’t lost at home for a long time.”

The only blessing in Tuesday’s game being called off was that it allows some of Ayr’s walking wounded time to recover.

Andy Rodgers, Ryan McCann and the suspended Alan Trouten, would all have sat out the trip to Glebe Park as would long term crocks Bobby Donnelly and Dean Keenan.

Martyn Campbell, who missed Saturday with a hamstring strain, was hoping to make it. But the extra few days rest will mean he has a better chance for the weekend trip to Forfar.

Reid is still hoping to bolster numbers but concedes there is limited availability now that the transfer window has shut.

And he has dismissed speculation that 17-year-old St Johnstone midfielder Liam Caddis was close to signing a loan deal.

Reid said: “We need to get someone in with the games coming thick and fast but now we’re looking at young boys or someone doing us a favour.”

Trouten is still banned for Saturday’s game at Forfar who trail Ayr by a point after drawing 1-1 with Alloa on Tuesday evening.

Ayr crashed 4-1 at Station Park in October for their darkest day.

McBookie.com make Dick Campbell's men 5/4 to win with Ayr 13/8 and the draw 5/2.