Annan chairman delighted with cup trip to Inverness

Jun 5 2009 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Friday

ANNAN chairman Henry McLelland is “absolutely delighted” with his side’s League Cup draw despite having to make the longest trip in the draw.

The Galabankies will be setting off to the Highlands to face recently-relegated Inverness Caley Thistle in the first round of the competition.

But despite the possibility of being drawn with anyone in the bottom three divisions, McLelland was buoyant about the draw.

“McLelland said: “It’s absolutely brilliant. It’s another first for the club. We’ve never played Inverness before, and they were an SPL side last year.

“To think that this time last year we were an East League team contemplating trips to Peebles and Selkirk, and now we’re going to Inverness.

“It’s absolutely fantastic.

“They’ve a strong following and hopefully our fans will fancy the trip.

“It should be a great experience – it’s what the cup is all about!”

Queens have a far more straight-forward tie – a trip to second division’s Queens Park.

And in a quirk of fate, Queens Park will also be heading to the region, taking on Annan in the Challenge Cup – the draw of which was made last week.

In that draw, Queens have a home time against Livingston to contend with.

Annan’s hopes of signing former Queens hero Andy Aitken have been dashed as he has been lured to Ayr United.

Henry McLelland and Harry Cairney had been trying to coax Aitken back to his hometown team.

But just as it was starting to look promising, they heard the news that he will be heading back to the Scottish First Division in the black and white of Ayr.

McLelland said: “We were very disappointed to hear Andy won’t be joining the club. He’s a great player and he’d do a great job for us.

“But we completely understand that he wants to stay in that division and the doors always open for him in the future.”

McLelland went on to admit that his side are in contact with “a number of players”, but would not disclose any individual names as yet.