NETREWARDS
Hopkin delighted to snap up keeper Aidan
David Hopkin insists bagging a new keeper can prove one of Ayr’s signings of the summer.
Aidan McAdams, Morton’s player of the year, becomes the latest Cappielow man to follow his old boss to Somerset.
And Hopkin (right) reckons the 22-year-old can go on to be a fans’ favourite between the sticks. He told the Post: “I’m delighted to get Aidan as I didn’t think he was going to be available.
“He’s a young keeper who’s still only a kid at 22 and there were others in for his signature. So I’m delighted he’s agreed to come here.
“I took him to Morton last season and he was fantastic for me.
“We’ve waited for this one and been rewarded – I’ve said from day one that having a goalkeeper who is our own is a big thing. “It prevents us being in the position of last season where we had to ask young PJ Morrison to come in with a few games to go and keep us in the Championship.
“We’ll look to add another goalie during the next few weeks and it will be good competition.”
Ayr kick off their pre-season with a closed doors game against Welsh side TNS this Friday. Then it’s a trip to Stranraer on Tuesday. No away fans will be granted access, but the game will be streamed online for £5.
Hopkin said: “It will be good to get the games started and we’re still looking to strengthen.
“We have the goalkeeper and defence sorted now and that’s a great base to build from. We’ll hopefully add a midfielder and some strikers in the weeks ahead as we still have work to do to make sure we have a squad that will be competitive.”
Meanwhile, McAdams revealed the lure of following his old boss on a two-year deal was too good to resist.
He said: “When I knew of the manager’s interest, I couldn’t wait to get the deal signed.
“I know exactly what he asks of his goalkeepers and can only continue learning under him.
“His backroom staff was another big factor in me coming as the chance to work with a top goalie coach like Dave Timmins really appealed to me.
“I had a couple of other options in Scotland but having previously worked with the manager and having my breakthrough season under him, I knew I wanted to be with him again.
“I think we’ll be very hard to beat this season – that’s something the manager’s teams always are.”
•The Ayrshire Derby will be screened live on the BBC on Monday, August 2 at 7.45pm.