FIVE ALIVE
Bullen delighted as targets landed
Lee Bullen made it a January high five – then challenged his new look squad to fight for their jerseys.
The Ayr United head coach completed a deadline day double swoop for defender Blaine Rowe and midfielder Kerr McInroy.
And the boss reckons he now has players battling for places all across the pitch following a successful transfer window.
Bully told the Post: “Any good squad needs competition and I think we’ve now got that.
“The players we’ve brought in have addressed the imbalance we had and given us more options in key areas.
“It’s all about the lads pushing each other now.
“Nobody should be comfortable in their positions – they hold the jerseys for now but when standards drop, they know someone is there to step in.”
Rowe, 19, has arrived from Coventry on a six month loan and is bidding to follow in the footsteps of Michael Rose, who swapped Ayr for the Sky Blues.
The right wing back said: “Michael is a great player and I saw how Ayr developed him, so that was a big selling point for me.
“He’s had nothing but good things to say about the club and what it did for him.
“What he achieved here shows there is a pathway and hopefully I can come and have that showcase and perform well.”
Former Celtic reserve skipper McInroy has also signed a short term loan after being farmed out by the Parkhead club.
He spent the first half of the season on loan at
Airdrie.
The midfielder, 21, said: “The club seems to be going in the right direction and really made me feel wanted.
“I like to get on the ball and make things happen and I see this as a really good place to come and do it.”
United were due in action at Partick last night (Tuesday) for the rearranged clash at Firhill before taking on Dunfermline at Somerset this Saturday.
Bullen added: “The good thing about getting extra bodies in is it allows us to keep things fresh and it will be a case of horses for courses.”
The deadline day swoops added to new boys Ryan Gondoh, Ben Dempsey and Sam Ashford. Academy product Fraser Bryden also landed a pro contract.