I could’ve been on a beach in Dubai but I’ll get new lease of Fife on loan
Ross has no regrets over Dons switch
ETHAN ROSS would have been jetting to Dubai for some warmweather training this week had he stayed at Aberdeen.
But the teenager insists he is thrilled to have swapped fun in the sun for life in Fife.
Ross joined Dunfermline on loan on Friday and was plunged straight into the starting line-up for his debut 24 hours later.
The 18-year-old, who has seven first-team appearances for the Dons under his belt, was lively as the Pars bossed the first half against Ayr.
But his East End Park bow ended in disappointment after Craig Moore’s winner consigned the Fifers to a fourth straight loss.
Despite the defeat Ross is adamant he has no regrets about making the switch in search of valuable game time.
Ross, who travelled to the Gulf with Aberdeen 12 months ago, said: “If I had stayed I would have been away to Dubai – but East End Park is just as good.
“As soon as I knew Dunfermline were keen I was ready to go. If I’d hung on until after Dubai then you never know, they might have gone out and got somebody else.
“I knew when this opportunity came I had to take it and that’s what I have done. I’ve been to Dubai so I don’t need to go again do I?
“Dubai is really good for the boys, it gets them away all together but I am focused on my time here at Dunfermline.
“I am looking to get as much game time as I can out of the loan and get a bit of match experience at a really high level.
“The Championship in Scotland is a good level and I’ll try to play as many games as possible and help the team as much as I can.
“Saturday was close to what I have seen in the Premiership.
“The standard is good, really high, and that is one of the reasons I wanted to come here – to challenge myself against good teams like Ayr.”
Ross was heavily involved as Dunfermline dominated early on against a strangely subdued Ayr.
But with Kyle Turner’s inswinging free-kick hitting the post they could not turn their possession into goals.
Greg Kiltie missed an open goal when keeper Ross Doohan’s clearance fell to him 40 yards out.
And on-form Kevin Nisbet failed to get the better of Doohan when played through on goal.
Ayr skipper Steven Bell had earlier hit the top of the bar with a header but the visitors then clinched the three points just before the interval to move above Dundee into third.
Alan Forrest’s shot from the left of the box was heading wide before Moore stuck out a boot to divert it into the bottom corner.
Defeat would have dropped the Honest Men out of the play-off places but just their second win in eight games will swell confidence as they bid to stay in the hunt.
Moore said: “It was a massive result. We needed to grind it out.
“The performance wasn’t pretty but it was just about getting the win somehow and kicking on from here.
“Also, the results went our way. It was a massive boost.
“We’ve been in this league for a good couple of years now so we know what to expect.
“If we play the way we can and don’t make mistakes we will pick up good results and we will stay where we are because we have a good enough squad to be up there.”