Hatters snap up Guiseley skipper on loan

Luton Town have signed Guiseley central defender Simon Ainge on loan for a month, writes Mike Simmonds.

The 24-year-old, who was captain of the Blue Square Bet North club and has also skippered England C, started his career at Bradford City, playing 11 times for the Bantams.

He was released at the end of the 2008-09 campaign and joined Bradford Park Avenue, while moving to Guiseley in February 2010.

A few teams were sniffing around Ainge after his fine form saw Guiseley climb to second in the table, but once Hatters made their move, the defender admitted there was only one club to join.

He said: “It’s a massive club and going for promotion, so I want to come here and hopefully win the league.

“There were a couple of other clubs in for me but when I knew about Luton it was a no-brainer.

“I’m happy to be here and looking forward to Saturday. I’m a defender, I can head the ball, I’m quite athletic and I enjoy defending.”

Boss Paul Buckle said: “Simon’s someone we’ve looked at for a few weeks now and are happy to bring in on loan.

“It’s always difficult when you’re trying to bring someone in because as manager you very rarely get the chance to see them play, because you’re playing yourself.

“You’re going on maybe a DVD or recommendation and I’m pleased to have him in on loan, it gives the boy the chance to have a look at us and us to have a look at him.

“Hopefully he can go straight into the team. He’s interesting, you line someone to come up and then you win, it makes it interesting in terms of selection.

“He’s certainly someone if it is to work out, he’s for the long term. He’s very aggressive, he wants to head the ball, wants to defend and those are the sorts of qualities you want in a centre half.”

Guiseley secretary Adrian Towers said: “If all goes well for him down at Luton, and a fee can be agreed, then we feel that this will be a good outcome for both Guiseley AFC and Simon.”

The acquisition of Ainge doesn’t mean the end for fellow loanee Connor Essam with the Southport match the final one of his temporary spell from League Two Gillingham.

Buckle added: “That doesn’t mean anything. He’s got another game on Saturday, that’s the last game of Connor’s loan. We’re talking to Gillingham about that, it’s not about other people leaving, this has been done because we needed to do it.”

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