Shape up or ship out warns Ayr United boss Brian Reid

Sep 17 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

FURIOUS Brian Reid has vowed to boot out Ayr United’s flops and pledged to ride out the storm.

And he promised: “There will be no more Mr Nice Guy. It’s now shape up or ship out.”

Boss Reid has abandoned a move for veteran keeper Alan Main who played his third game as a trialist in Saturday’s 4-1 hammering by Alloa.

And midfielder Stephen McKeown, who walked out last week, won’t kick another ball for the club.

Former Airdrie and Queen of the South midfielder Ryan McCann, 28, looks set to play as a trialist in Saturday’s trip to East Fife.

And he could be joined by an experienced left-back who was invited to training on Wednesday night.

Reid opted against signing 42-year-old Main and will instead use the money to sign a defender.

He revealed: “Alan wouldn’t have been a cheap signing and he could only make it down to us on a Saturday.

“Even if we had Petr Cech in goal at Alloa it wouldn’t have made a difference.

“With Bobby Donnelly likely to be out for a few more weeks, we need to strengthen defensively in other positions.”

Reid also plans to use up money freed by the departure of McKeown who failed to shine after his summer move from Partick.

And he continued to spread the net by taking in the Celtic v Motherwell reserve match at Lennoxtown on Tuesday.

Reid branded the humiliating performance at Alloa as the worst in his three years at the club.

He hit out: “It is certainly not acceptable for a club of Ayr United’s stature and action will be taken.

“If the players don’t do what they are told, I will bring in boys from the under 19s to do it.

“The way we played it could have been more than 4-1 and that’s unacceptable.

“Players have let themselves and the club down. They now need to step up to the plate.”

Angry fans rounded on Reid after the Alloa defeat but the boss insists he will pull through.

He said: “Supporters are entitled to their opinions but there was no one more angry about Saturday’s performance than myself.

“We need to try and get everyone behind the team but I am confident that I can turn things around.

“I won’t stand by and watch a lack of effort which is unacceptable.

“If I have to bring in other players I will do that. I’ve done it before and I will do it again.”

Reid fingers a lack of communication among his team and reckons they are not shouting enough on the park.

He claimed: “There are not enough players speaking to each other and working hard enough but it’s up to Scott (MacKenzie) and myself to get them doing that.

“If they don’t do it, they’ll find themselves out the team and I will find some who will.”

Danny McKay scored two, including a penalty, as Ayr lost 4-3 to Queen’s Park in the Reserve League Cup at Lesser Hampden on Monday evening. Stephen Reynolds got the other goal.

Dean Keenan, making his return from suspension, came off with a hamstring strain after 20 minutes.

Keenan will see the physio later this week but Reid hopes to have him fit for Saturday’s trip to Methil.

lBig hearted fans have donated £4,559.04 to the Panda Pals 100 campaign.

The money enables 303 youngsters to be given free season tickets for the club.

Spokesman Mark Pettigrew said: “We're hoping for a couple of significant donations this week which should help us break through the £5k mark.

“Another encouraging area is that we're starting to see donations coming in from small businesses across Ayrshire.”

lBookies think Ayr can put their Alloa disaster behind them – and beat East Fife.

Ayr are 5/4 favourites while Steve Crawford's men are 6/4 despite being at home. McBookie.com make the draw 13/5.

Ayr are 6/1 to win 1-0, the score on their last trip to Methil in March last year and 17/2 to win 2-0, which they did the last time the sides met at Somerset Park. So at least history is on their side.

In the opening goal scorer market, Andy Rodgers is a 6/1 chance while Alan Trouten is 10/1.