Hurlford want £1m Coulibaly to play as trialist
Souleymane Coul ibaly could soon be pulling on a Hurlford shirt after the Ayrshire club kick-started talks about playing the £1million striker.
The former Kilmarnock frontman has been training with the West Super Premier side to keep up his fitness levels after a big- money move to Al Ahly turned sour in the summer.
And can reveal Ford reached out to Junior chiefs on Thursday to look into the possibi l ity of Coulibaly playing as a trial ist whi le he awaits a resolution to his controversial exit from the Egyptian club.
United boss Dar ren Henderson said it “would be crazy not to look at it”, albeit he insisted that any arrangement, if allowed, would only go ahead if it is “right for him rather than what is right for Hurlford”.
The manager said: “Souley’s been a cracking lad. He came to me and said, ‘ Listen Darren, I really appreciate you letting me train – if I can help you out I will.’
“He goes, ‘ If there was some sort of international clearance I can get until I get it resolved to play at the top level and I could play lower level I wouldn’t hesitate in helping you out – if I can, I will.’
“He has been fantastic. We’ve actual ly tried to make inquiries. It’s a bit difficult with international clearance and the Egyptian club still holding on to his registration.
“We’ve asked the Junior FA to look into it for us and we’ve not heard back from them. What I think needs to happen is they’d need to contact the Egyptian FA to find out if they will give him international clearance.
“We just wanted to test the water. All he’d be doing at Hurl ford, i f it was remotely possible, is just get some game time into him, that’s all.
“If it’s not right for him and it’s going to hinder him in any way, then it’s not going to happen, whether he’s available or not.”
Irrespective of whether Coulibaly – who spent seven months at Killie – can play for the junior side, Henderson insists he will always be welcome at training.
And the former Ayr, Stranraer and Hamilton midfielder is hoping Ford’s frontmen aren’t the only strikers the 22- year- old Ivorian helps sharpen up.
He said: “My son Jay’s 15 and pro-youth at St Mirren. He has been there five or six years and is getting to that stage now where he’s playing Under-17 but he’s an Under16 so it’s quite tough for him.
“What I want him to do is come into training with me just to toughen him up. Sometimes it’s dif f icult getting him in but when Souley is there it’s easy.
“I’ve seen Souley go up to him in training and say, ‘ You need to be sharper or take fewer touches’ – he has been good with Jay as well. And he goes back to tell the boys at St Mirren, ‘ I’m training with a £1m player!’ – you know what kids are like.
“Souley calls me gaffer. I played something like 23 seasons all in the lower leagues, I was just a journeyman and battered about but I’ve got a £1m player calling me gaffer. It’s great.”