Former skipper set for Stirling Albion return

Jan 6 2010

STIRLING Albion are set to bring Chris Aitken back to Forthbank in a loan deal from Ayr United until the end of the season.

The popular midfielder and former skipper netted 11 times to help the Binos win promotion via the play-offs in 2006/07 and scored 13 goals in Division One the following season before moving to Somerset Park in the summer of 2008.

Aitken netted three goals in the play-offs as Brian Reid’s men were promoted alongside Raith Rovers and he has played a number of games this term, but appears to have fallen out of favour and last featured in the 1-1 draw with Ross County on November 14.

Binos boss Allan Moore said: “I think this could be a big signing for us and hopefully it is one the fans will be pleased about as well. Chris gives us a goal threat from midfield and if we get a penalty it is usually as good as a goal if Chris is around.

“I don’t think he has been enjoying it at Ayr recently and that is why this opportunity has arisen for us. He is under contract with them until the summer but Brian Reid was happy to loan him back to us. All being well, I hope to get all the paperwork sorted out this week.

“I’ve told Chris that there is no guarantee he will go straight into the team but he is willing to come and fight for his place. I think he knows he has a good chance of winning a medal – we want to go up as champions and not have to rely on the play-offs.”

Winger David O’Brien has made a big impact since returning to Forthbank from Ayr in the summer and Aitken could prove a key signing in the battle to climb above Cowdenbeath at the Second Division summit, while keeping the likes of Alloa and Brechin at bay.

Assuming the Binos are able to conclude a deal with Ayr, it is unclear when the ex-Hamilton man will be able to make his return given that the freezing weather shows no sign of relenting.

Stirling are due to face Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday but that game has next to no chance of going ahead and, assuming it falls victim to the weather, will be rearranged in the first instance for Tuesday, January 12.

However, Aitken will not be eligible to play as he is cup-tied, having sat on the bench for Ayr’s 1-0 victory over Highland League Deveronvale on the same afternoon that Moore’s men were squeezing past Auchinleck Talbot in the Forthbank fog.

The Binos haven’t managed a game since the 2-2 draw with Dumbarton on December 15 and their next league fixture is against Peterhead on January 16 at Forthbank, with East Fife in town the following weekend, ahead of a crucial January 30 trip to Cowdenbeath.

Stirling’s outstanding matches at home to Stenhousemuir and away to Brechin and Alloa have still to be rearranged and SFL rules allow them to be held over until the beginning of March, although it may be preferable to schedule one or two in February to avoid the possibility of a fixture pile-up after the coldest December since 1981.

Back then, Alex Smith’s side were inactive between December 5 and January 20, when Clyde won at Annfield in the Scottish Cup, while the severe winter of 1978/79 meant Albion didn’t play a home league match from December 23 until March 7.

Moore added: “It’s frustrating not to have played for so long so hopefully there will be a thaw soon. One of the biggest problems is getting training facilities.

“If we can’t get indoors at The Peak this week then the lads will just have to run round the pitch in the snow – the good thing is that we have a group of players who are probably the fittest in the league.”

Meanwhile, Ross McCord has returned to Dundee United but the future of Bryan Prunty and Craig McKeown remains unclear. Prunty is on an emergency loan from Ayr United and is due to go back to Somerset this month, but his stay could be extended until mid-February as that type of loan deal can last a maximum of 93 days.

Moore said: “I would like to keep Bryan but I’ll need to speak to the Scottish League to see exactly what we can do and also what his situation is with Ayr. At the moment they are paying part of his wages while he is on loan but if he was to reach agreement to leave them then obviously we would be paying the full amount and that might be an issue.

“Craig is with us from Dundee for a month but he is struggling with a groin problem at the moment – we’ll need to wait and see with that one as I wouldn’t want to extend the deal and then find out that he couldn’t play.”