Reds keen to bolster defence with Allison

Jan 15 2010 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion are keen to bring Falkirk defender Brian Allison to Forthbank on loan for a second time but look set to lose striker Bryan Prunty to Alloa.

Prunty has been on loan to the Binos from Ayr United since November and boss Allan Moore wanted to extend his stay until the end of the season but the former Aberdeen frontman is close to finalising an 18-month deal with local rivals Alloa after agreeing a pay-off from Ayr.

Stirling are well covered in the striking department - with Martin Grehan, David McKenna and Michael Mullen all available to Moore - but Prunty’s departure still comes as a blow given his impressive performances during his short stay with the club.

Ironically, Prunty failed to score during his stint at Forthbank and hasn’t netted for Ayr this term either but was a prolific marksman last term and is a player with obvious quality who is bound to give Allan Maitland’s promotion-chasing side a boost.

Moore, meanwhile, is bidding to bolster his defence for the hectic few months that lie ahead and would love to add Allison (above) – who impressed on a loan spell with Stirling in the First Division two years ago – to his squad.

The central defender has recovered from a serious injury and has made four appearances for Falkirk in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League in 2009/10, the last of them in the 3-1 defeat to Rangers on December 5, but it is thought the Bairns are now willing to allow the player to move on loan until the end of the season to ensure regular first-team football.

Moore is also looking to extend the temporary transfer of Dundee defender Craig McKeown, who has only managed one game for the Binos because of the severe weather – the 2-2 draw with Dumbarton on December 15 that also represented Albion’s last outing.

Slower

Stirling are due to entertain Peterhead tomorrow (Saturday) but the thaw has proved slower than anticipated and, although the temperature is set to climb on Friday and Saturday when rain is forecast, it could come too late to save the fixture with a Blue Toon team who went down 2-1 at Forthbank in August but claimed a 3-2 success at Balmoor at the end of October.

Neale Cooper’s men haven’t played since losing 3-0 to Brechin on December 15 and were in poor form when the weather intervened – that Glebe Park setback marking a fourth straight defeat – but Peterhead will hope to return refreshed after the long lay-off.

Albion have home games against the Blue Toon and East Fife to come before the January 30 trip to Cowdenbeath and Moore said: “We need to improve our home form and really want six points out of six from these two games. If we can keep the back door shut then I feel we have the quality to go on and win the league this season.”

Midfielder Chris Aitken is likely to feature on his return to the club after sealing his move from Ayr United while Moore will hope Andy Graham is fit enough to play despite a knee problem.

Meanwhile, Stirling’s Scottish Cup tie against Albion Rovers, postponed on Tuesday, has been rearranged for Monday night at Cliftonhill. If the game is again called off, or ends in a draw, the teams will try again on Wednesday. The reward for the winners is a fifth-round trip to Ross County or Inverurie Locos on February 6.