BIGTHREEZE

Kerrdesperateforfixturepile-upreprieveasweatherthreatensthirdgameonthebounce

Ayr boss Mark Kerr admits he’s on weather watch this week – as United bid to avoid a third straight call-off.

The Honest Men will attempt to beat the big freeze by heading to Dunfermline this Saturday.

And Kerr is keeping everything crossed his men can compete for the first time since the January 2 loss at Queen of the South.

He said: “We’re desperate to get certain things out of our system.

“But we can only do that by playing games, so hopefully we get the go ahead.

“It’s been a frustrating few weeks and you just want to be out there on the pitch.

“Dunfermline is a chance for us to go up there on a big pitch and hopefully show what we’re about.”

Kerr continues to pick apart Ayr’s habit of conceding quick goals, which has proved their undoing on a number of occasions.

He said: “I keep looking at it from many angles.

“But Queens played Arbroath on Saturday and one team conceded two goals in five minutes – while the other conceded two goals in three minutes.

“We seem to be the captains of doing it, but it’s a strange season and I think the lack of atmosphere at games is definitely a factor. When fans are in, you lose a goal and they tend to be on you so the first few tackles afterwards are hard and the tone is set.”

Kerr expects to complete the extension of Cammy Smith’s loan deal this week.

The club and player are working through the finer details on keeping him at Ayr for the rest of the campaign.

And the boss continues to scour the market for a new striker. He said: “There’s a couple we’re looking at, but everything depends on what happens at their own clubs this month and whether they become available. We’re working hard on the options and will hopefully have something over the line soon.”

Meanwhile, Ayr were among the clubs to back playing on this season after SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell consulted over a pause to the campaign.

New owner David Smith told the Post: “As long as the situation remains as it is with the Scottish Government and SPFL, we’re happy to keep playing.

“Until such times as it becomes unsafe, I think it’s important we continue.”