News, Rumours and Gossip

Duthie signs 27/1/98
Ayr yesterday completed the signing of Livingston's highly-rated left-sided defender Mark Duthie. The fee was in the region of 40k. Note that he is cup-tied for the K*lm*****k game.

It's Killie ... 26/1/98
"The reward for Ayr's victory on Saturday is a home tie against our Ayrshire rivals on Saturday 14th February."
Kev McClelland

Gray-dient 26/1/98
"Ayr are reported to be interested in taking Stuart Gray on loan from Celtic. Gray had been on loan to Morton for 3 months but this ended last week and he played for Celtic reserves at the weekend. This story could have some truth in it as Ayr were reluctant to take Derek Anderson on loan as it would have taken up Ayr's second loan slot for the season."
Kev McClelland

Kegs a goner ... 23/1/98
Steve Kerrigan has signed for English Third Division side Shrewsbury Town. The fee was in the region of 30k. Following the departure of English, Graham and Kegs, and Colin McDonald's exile at Clydebank, it appears likely that young John Bradford will at last be given his chance. Ayr also look likely to sign David Hilton, a left-sided midfielder recently freed by Manchester United.

In/out 22/1/98

1. Ally Graham has left the club on a free, and is now with Clyde.
2. Marco Ciardi, having failed to settle in Scotland, has returned to Sweden.
3. Steve Kerrigan is currently on trial with Shrewsbury, though a permanent move looks unlikely.
4. Defender Derek Anderson has arrived on a free from K*lm*****k.

Lights out at Coatbridge 22/1/98
The poor state of the electrics at Cliftonhill means that the floodlights cannot be used. This leaves Ayr's cancelled fixture against Hamilton in a state of limbo: it is possible that the game will be moved to Fir Park.