Bryden has big dreams
Lee Bullen knows talented youngster Fraser Bryden will eventually leave Ayr United for pastures new.
But the Somerset Park boss says the k id is dreaming of helping the club to Scotland’s top flight.
Bullen gave the 17-yearold his debut and now the likes of Dundee United, Brighton and Cardiff City have scouted him out.
But, for now, he insists Bryden is happy at his boyhood club.
Bullen said: “A year ago Fraser stood on the Somerset Road end cheering, shouting and bouncing with his mates.
“Just nine months later he came on aga inst Arbroath in front of his pals and a while later he scored his first goal at that end of the ground.
“His dream is to play a part in getting his club into the Premiership. It ’s a difficult target and some will say it’s unrealistic. “But it’s his dream. “Ultimately, money talks and if something comes out of the blue that gives the kid a f inancial upli f t , fair enough. But, interestingly, his family were worried we wanted to extend his contract just to sell him.
“We said absolutely not. We’ll promote him and sell his story, of course.”
Another success story at Ayr this season has been on- loan Rangers winger James Maxwell. Bullen is unsure whether he’ll be able to get him back to Somerset.
But he’ll use Maxwell as an example to tempt other young stars to Somerset.
He said: “James has done well and his profile has gone up. That’s what we want to do, bring in quality young players who aren’t getting first-team football.
“They can come here, get the bumps and bruises in the Championship.
“That’s all we can do, give these boys a shop window. But they have to be the right type of character to come into this group of players.”