New Ayr United striker Gareth Wardlaw returns to “first love”

Jul 1 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

GARETH Wardlaw used to question his own sanity when he last played for Ayr United.

The striker, whose first stint at Somerset ended in misery, admits he fell out of love with football.

Now he’s THRILLED to be back – and has pledged to score the goals that keep United safe from relegation.

Gaz, 32, raised eyebrows last week by snubbing an offer from Falkirk to go part-time with Ayr.

But he was never in doubt that his future lay back where it all started.

Wardlaw confessed: “I owe Ayr a lot – they were my first love as a club and gave me a chance in senior football.

“But it all went wrong in my last season, when it really wasn’t a good time to be at the club.

“It was absolutely soul destroying, especially with all the travelling, and there were times when it really got to me.

“I’d be driving home to Fife in the middle of winter and I’d wonder why I was doing it.

“But I’m delighted I can now come back with the club clearly in a better place and I feel I’m also a much better player than the one who left.”

Wardlaw, who was also wanted by Ayr last season, became an instant hit with United fans when he first signed from amateurs Burntisland Shipyard.

And boss Brian Reid finally got his man again after a long chase this summer, which involved calls and text messages crossing the globe.

Wardlaw laughed: “I was getting some amount of hassle from big Reidy.

“He was texting me three times a day from Australia while he was on holiday – I definitely wouldn’t like to see his phone bill.

“But it’s nice to feel so wanted and he played a big part in my decision to come back.

“He spoke very well about his plans for the club and what he wants to achieve here and I want to be part of it.”

And Reid is in little doubt that he’s got the right man to lead his attack.

He said: “Gareth has come back to us a better player than the one who left – and he’s also come back to a better team.

“He’s a mobile striker who will run channels and work teams. He’s not just a big targetman who will stand there and do nothing.

“He’ll work his backside off to take the weight from other players and that’s just the type of guy we need.”