Old Ayr United favourite Neil Scally tries to win new deal

Jul 15 2011 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYR UNITED have opened the door for a sentimental return by fans’ favourite Neil Scally.

And former Inverness midfielder Richie Hart, who has been playing in Malta, could get a run as a trialist against St Johnstone on Saturday.

Tough tackling Scally, 32, spent four seasons at Ayr as a youngster and was in the squad that reached the 2002 CIS Cup final.

He has spent the last five years at Queen of the South where his career was blighted by injury before becoming assistant manager.

Hart, 33, is also going through his pre-season paces as he attempts to win a deal.

Boss Brian Reid said: “I have invited Scally in for training to get himself fit. He has not played for a while after an ankle operation but the ankle is holding up well.

“If he proves his fitness I would be interested as he is hard, physical midfielder.

“It might take him four or five weeks to get up to speed but he’s the type of player I need.

“Neil is keen to give it a go and wants to make a comeback.”

Hart, who has played for Ross County and Dundee in addition to Inverness, spent last season with Hibernians in the Maltese Premier League.

Reid said: “I am going to have a look at him and maybe give him 45 minutes on Saturday.

“Richie can play anywhere across the middle of the park but might be better suited to the wider areas.”

Reid has now switched his priority for a central defender to a right-back.

He explained: “I think John Robertson is more suited to central defence than right back and we’ve still got Martyn Campbell to come into the back four.

“Midfield is my only slight concern. We’ve got three good strikers and wee RoddyPaterson has shown he can also give us something.”

Reid is still scouting a back-up keeper to Kevin Cuthbert but could still throw the gloves to last season’s No2 Ryan McWilliams who is training at the club.

The jury is still out on Kevin McKinlay and Alex Burke who played as trialists in the 1-0 win over St Mirren.

Reid confessed: “Kevin still needs to do a bit more but it’s hard to judge on his first game.

“Burke is a clever wee player who can keep the ball and create things. When we played against Dunfermline, they were always a better team when he was sitting on the ball in the holding role.

“He has got plenty of experience and could be a valuable player. But I won’t be making any decisions until the middle of next week until after we’ve played St Johnstone and Girvan.

“It could be that some other players might come to my attention.”

Dean Keenan and Bobby Donnelly, who missed most of last season through injury, are still training but someway short of match fitness as they try to seal fresh contracts.

But former Kilmarnock, Clyde, Morton and Crawley Town midfielder Stevie Masterton, is no longer training at the club.

Reid says there is no cause for concern after Eddie Malone and Mark Roberts were listed as trialists against St Mirren.

Malone has signed but his registration wasn’t through in time while Roberts will shortly complete the formalities.

Saturday’s visit of St Johnstone is followed by a trip to Girvan on Monday night (7pm), a game that was agreed as part of the deal that brought Michael Moffat to Somerset.