Ayr United

[DAFC2019]

All Scottish leagues & squads updated up until 1/06/17

Introduction: Ayr United were relegated from the Scottish Championship to League One and my first aim is to get them promoted back to the Championship in my first Season.

Transfers already completed by Ayr United:
IN: Michael Moffat (Dunfermline), Andy Geggan (Dunfermline), Chris Higgins (Queen Of The South), Craig Moore (Motherwell)
OUT: Michael Wardrope (Released), Peter Murphy (Released), Farid El Alagui (Released), Conrad Balatoni (Released), Nicky Devlin (Released), Daryll Megat (Released)

Current Squad (16) (Not including U20 Players)
Goalkeepers (2)
Greg Fleming
Jordan Hart

Defenders (4)
Michael Rose
Chris Higgins
Andy Geggan
Paddy Boyle

Midfielders (8)
Ross Docherty
Jamie Adams
Alan Forrest
Brian Gilmour
Robbie Crawford
Garry Harkins
Paul Cairney
Declan Mcdaid

Strikers (2)
Michael Moffat
Craig Moore

Squad Aim: Before the season starts I think 2/3 defenders and 1/2 strikers needed to be added to the squad. I am hoping to run with a small squad of around 20 players to allow more quality to be added.

 

[DAFC2019]

Friendlies
​

Ayr 0-0 St Johnstone
Port Vale 3-3 Ayr
Ards 0-3 Ayr

Reflection: Friendlies were just used for giving players game time and to improve fitness but I a with the outcomes of each game.

Arrivals So Far
​

Lee *** Free Transfer (2 year Deal) (Midfielder) (Previously at Stevenage)
Joe Nuttall Free Transfer (2 year Deal) (Striker) (Previously at Aberdeen)
Paul McMullan Loan (Celtic)

Betfred Cup

​

Aim: To qualify as one of the best second placed teams but also experiment with formations and players

Group
Hamilton
Queen's Park
Alloa
Arbroath

 

[DAFC2019]

Betfred Cup​

Queen's Park 1-1 Ayr (A Forrest)
(Queen's Park win 4-3 on pens)

Ayr 3-0 Hamilton (R Docherty, R Hardie, P Cairney)

Alloa 1-2 Ayr (L ***, R Hardie)

Ayr 2-1 Arbroath (A Forrest, C Moore)

Ayr finish top of the group on 10 points. 1 point ahead of Hamilton. Ayr qualify for the second round

Transfers​

Lee *** Free Transfer (2 year Deal) (Midfielder) (Previously at Stevenage)
Joe Nuttall Free Transfer (2 year Deal) (Striker) (Previously at Aberdeen)
Paul McMullan Loan (Celtic)
Aidan Nesbitt Loan (Celtic)
Ryan Hardie Loan (Rangers)
Andy Webster Free Transfer (11 Month Deal) (Previously at St Mirren)
Mark Docherty Free Transfer (2 Year Deal) (Previosuly at Dumbarton)

 

[DAFC2019]

August​

At the beginning of the month Ross Docherty was injured during training and ruled out for 6-7 weeks.

League
Alloa 0-1 Ayr (A Nesbitt 90+3)

Betfred Cup
Rangers 4-2 Ayr (J Nuttall 29, C Higgins 110)
(After Extra Time)

League
Ayr 3-1 Stranraer (C Moore 16, M Moffat 23, A Webster 54)

Challenge Cup
Queen's Park 0-2 Ayr (M Moffat 19, 41)

League
Arbroath 2-6 Ayr (M Moffat 5, 15, A Webster 14, C Moore 28, 56, 69)

League
Queen's Park 1-1 Ayr (B Gilmour 43)

League
Ayr 1-3 Airdrie (P Cairney 71)

League
Ayr 2-2 East Fife (J Nuttall 74, A Forrest 83)

Transfers​

In
Lee *** Free Transfer (2 Year Deal) (Previously at Stevenage)
Joe Nuttall Free Transfer (2 Year Deal (Previously at Aberdeen)
Andy Webster Free Transfer (11 Month Deal) (Previously at St Mirren)
Mark Docherty Free Transfer (2 Year Deal) (Previosuly at Dumbarton)
Paul Mcmullan Loan (Celtic)
Ryan Hardie Loan (Rangers)
Aidan Nesbitt Loan (Celtic)


End of month Review: After a bright start to the month winning our first 3 league matches our form dipped. We currently sit 3rd after 6 games 7 points behind unbeaten Raith Rovers. I am happy with the signings I have brought in and look forward to September where we play Inverness in the Challenge Cup at Home and top of the League Raith at Home.

 

[DAFC2019]

September​

Challenge Cup
Aye 0-0 Inverness (A Nesbitt 101)
(Ayr Win 4-2 on pens)
What a result after being reduced to 10 men early in Extra Time as all subs had been used and G Harkins picked up an injury.

So after the Inverness game we have a three players who suffered injuries during the game out. Andy Webster our for 5-6 weeks. Aidan Nesbitt out for 2 weeks. Gary Harkins out for 5-6 weeks.

League
Ayr 0-1 Forfar

League
Albion Rovers 1-2 Ayr (O.G 21, C Moore 33)

League
Ayr 0-0 Raith

End of month review: A great start to the month where we knocked Inverness out of the Challenge Cup, then missing a few players we suffer a defeat to 4th placed Forfar. Good end to the month where we are the first team this season to take points of high flying Raith Rovers, but the lack of goals recently is concerning. At the end of the month we are still 3rd place however we are 10 points behind top side Raith. After the first quarter (9 games) we have 15 points, 4 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats, scored 16 conceded 11. Next month sees us come up against 2nd in the league Alloa and Linfield in the Challenge Cup also East Fife, Stranraer and Arbroath in the league.

 

[DAFC2019]

October​

League
Ayr 5-2 Alloa (A Forrest 1, R Hardie 28, 61, P McMullan 67, C Higgins 69)

Challenge Cup
Linfield 1-1 Ayr (L *** 86)
(Linfield Win 5-4 on pens)

Paul Cairney ruled out for 3-4 weeks after picking up an injury during the Linfield game.

League
East Fife 0-0 Ayr (R Hardie 57, 82)

Mark Docherty sent off early in the second half meant we had to play most of the second half with 10 men.

League
Stranraer 1-1 Ayr (R Hardie 67)

Paddy Boyle ruled out for 7-9 weeks after getting injured during training.

League
Ayr 2-0 Arbroath (L *** 25, A Forrest 90+2)

End of Month Review: A good month which sees us score a lot more goals than last month. We have moved up to second and 9 points behind Raith Rovers. We sit 2nd having played 13 games won 7 drew 4 and lost 2 we currently have 25 points. Next Month we play Stenhousemuir in the Scottish Cup 3rd round and Airdrie & Queens Park in the League

 

[DAFC2019]

November​

After a good month in October 3 wins and a draw I recieved manager of the month for the first time this season.

League
Airdrie 4-1 Ayr (R Hardie 30)

Alan Forrest ruled out for 4-5 weeks after getting injured lifting weights

League
Ayr 3-1 Queen's Park (A Nesbitt 18, M Moffat 48, R Hardie 52)

Scottish Cup
Ayr 1-0 Stenhousemuir (L *** 15)

End of Month Review: After a bad start to the month, we made some team changes and swapped players about. We progressed in the Scottish Cup where we will play Alloa away in the fourth round. Lee *** has been a great addition to the squad and contract talks will be starting soon to try and keep *** at the club. We still sit second after 15 games 10 points behind Raith and 4 points clear of third placed Alloa. Next month is a busy month for Ayr, we play first placed Raith Away and third placed Alloa Away aswell as Albion Rovers, Forfar and Stranraer.

 

[DAFC2019]

December​

Transfer News & Contract Renewals
Rangers, David Bates has signed a Pre-Contract with Ayr
Ross County's, Tony Dignwall has signed a Pree-Contract with Ayr
Rangers, Ryan Hardie has extended his loan deal with Ayr to the end of next season
Lee *** has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2020 with a year extension after he has played 20 league games.

League
Ayr 2-1 Albion Rovers (R Hardie 37, 40)

League
Forfar 5-2 Ayr (M Moffat 34, R Hardie 64)

League
Raith 2-1 Ayr (C Moore 54)

Ryan Hardie ruled out for 3-4 weeks after getting injured during the Raith game.

League
Alloa 0-3 Ayr (M Moffat 3, L *** 64, C Moore 84)

League
Ayr 1-0 Stranraer (M Moffat 40)

End of Month Review: A few different results, very disappointed with the Forfar result but cant complain about the Raith game, they battered us for 90 minutes and could have been more. We have already started building a team for next season and January could see us bring in a few more new faces and also depatures to see if we can finish the season strong.

 

[DAFC2019]

January​

Transfers
OUT
Paul McMullan Loan Terminated (Celtic) 2 goals & 2 assists in 11 appearances

IN
Doncaster's, Nicky Devlin signs a Pre-Contract with Ayr to return to the club for his second spell
Andy Goram added to the backroom staff as Goalkeeping Coach
Celtic's, Aidan Nesbitt has signed a Loan Extension with Ayr until the end of next season
Scott Gallacher (Goalkeeper) Free Transfer (2 Year Deal)
Swansea's, Adam King (Midfielder) has joined Ayr on Loan until the end of the season

League
Ayr 1-1 East Fife (M Moffat 82)

League
Arbroath 1-2 Ayr (A Geggan 26, R Hardie 65)

Scottish Cup 4th Round
Alloa 2-4 Ayr (C Moore 12, 72, A Nesbitt 16, OG 32)

League
Ayr 1-1 Airdrie (R Hardie 21)

End Of Month Review: A okay month could have been better, my huge concern is having played Airdrie three times this season and we haven't managed to beat them yet. After 23 games we sit second, 13 points behind top side Raith who have one hand on the title, we are 2 points clear of 3rd placed Alloa. We have progressed to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup where we will face either Hearts or Partick Thistle away. We have made a good few additions to the squad to finish the season but also looking ahead to next season. Next month we play Queen's Park, Albion Rovers, Forfar and top side Raith and also our Scottish Cup tie.

 

[DAFC2019]

February​

Transfers
IN
Swansea's Adam King extends his Loan Deal with Ayr until the end of next season

League
Queen's Park 1-1 Ayr (R Hardie 39)

Scottish Cup Last 16
Partick Thistle 4-1 Ayr (A Nesbitt 7)

League
Albion Rovers 0-4 Ayr (C Moore 40, 76, A King 46, 70)

[BLeague[/B]
Ayr 0-2 Forfar

League
Ayr 3-2 Raith (A King 33, R Hardie 45+3, 63)

End of Month Review: Adam King has been a good addition to the squad since coming in on loan the central midfielder has chipped in with 3 goals in 4 appearances. A mixed months of results, I felt we deserved more out of the Partick Thistle game as we created plenty of chances just lacked a bit of composure. Beating Raith Rovers aswell was a good result and a solid team performance although we gifted them 2 late goals to make it a nervy finish. We still sit second 15 points behind Raith Rovers after 27 games, 9 games left. We are only the third team to beat Raith in the league this season. We are 4 points clear of Alloa who are in third place. Next month we take on East Fife (9th), Alloa (3rd), stranraer (6th).

 

[DAFC2019]

March​

League
East Fife 2-1 Ayr (R Hardie 84)

BREAKING NEWS​

Ayr agree a new 1 year deal with manager

League
Ayr 2-0 Alloa (G Harkins 39, R Hardie 76)
Lee *** sent off 49

League
Stranraer 4-5 Ayr (R Hardie 15, 90, OG 34, A Webster 64, G Harkins 67)

End of month review: A frustrating month defensively, gifted East Fife 2 goals by giving the ball away at the back. It should not take a team to score 5 goals to win a game, 4-1 up against stranraer and it took a last minute goal to win the game. Delighted to have been offered a new contract which i was happy to sign straight away. With only 6 games remaining we sit 2nd 12 points behind Raith and 9 points clear of third placed Alloa. We only need 1 point in our last 6 games to secure a play-off spot. Next month we face Arbroath (7th), Airdrie (4th), Forfar (5th), Queen's Park (8th), Albion Rovers (10th).

 

[DAFC2019]

April​

Transfers
IN
Falkirk's, Joe Mckee signs a pre-contract with Ayr
Alloa's Greg Spence signs a pre-contract with Ayr
Grant Holt signs a 11 month contract and is able to play last 5 games, joins after Arbroath game.
Chris Higgins signs a new 1 year contract with Ayr

League
Ayr 1-1 Arbroath (C Moore 37)

Ayr secure a play-off spot

League
Airdrie 1-2 Ayr (C Moore 29, G Holt 89)
Holt brought on in the 70th minute as a sub for his debut and scores the winner

Aidan Nesbitt ruled out for 7-8 weeks after getting injured during the Airdrie game

League
Forfar 0-2 Ayr (A Forrest 53, 82)

Raith Rovers win Ladbrokes League One

League
Ayr 1-1 Queen's Park (R Hardie 21)

League
Ayr 2-1 Albion Rovers (G Holt 15, 77)

End of month review: Unbeaten month is always good but one 1 clean sheet in 5 games is worrying. The signing of Grant Holt looks to be a good one 3 goals in 3 games. With one final game left away to Raith Rovers we have secured second spot 11 points clear of third placed Alloa. Next month we play Raith and then we look forward to the play-off games where it will be....
Ayr V Alloa (over 2 legs)
Airdrie V Dunfermline/St Mirren (over 2 legs)

 

[DAFC2019]

STOP Bundeshaus

May​

Final League Game
Raith 0-1 Ayr (R Hardie 30)

Play-Off Semi Final 1st Leg
Alloa 1-2 Ayr (A Forrest 59, R Hardie 86)

Play-Off Semi Final 2nd Leg
Ayr 0-2 Alloa (2-3 Agg)

End of season review: Very very disappointing way to finish the season by losing in the play-offs, we just didnt turn up for the second leg which is very disappointing. That second leg defeat to Alloa was our first defeat to them this season we have played them 8 times beating them 7 times and loosing 1. Overall I have been pleased with all our players this season we just nees to build on this ans our aim next season is to win the league anything less is not acceptable.

 

[DAFC2019]

Season Preview

Transfers​

IN
David Bates Pre-Contract (Rangers)
Nicky Devlin Pre-Contract (Doncaster)
Tony Dingwall Pre-Contract (Ross County)
Joe Mckee Pre-Contract (Falkirk)
Greig Spence Pre-Contract (Alloa)
Kevin Holt Pre-Contract (Dundee)
Ryan Hardie Loan (Rangers)
Adam King Loan (Swansea)
Aidan Nesbitt Loan (Celtic)

OUT
Jamie Adams Released
Jordan Hart Released
Robbie Crawford Released
Paddy Boyle Free (Stevenage)
Joe Nutall Free (Queen of The South)
Michael Moffat Free (Queen of The South)
Brian Gilmour Free (Stranraer)

Current Squad (23) (Not including U20 Players)
Goalkeepers (2)
Greg Fleming
Scott Gallacher

Defenders (8)
Michael Rose
Chris Higgins
Andy Geggan
Kevin Holt
Mark Docherty
David Bates
Andy Webster
Nicky Devlin

Midfielders (9)
Ross Docherty
Joe Mckee
Aidan Nesbitt (Loan)
Adam King (Loan)
Tony Dingwall
Alan Forrest
Garry Harkins
Paul Cairney
Lee ***

Strikers (4)
Ryan Hardie (Loan)
Craig Moore
Greig Spence
Grant Holt

Aim
Im happy with the squad I have and wont look to sign anyone else unless its better than what we have. After the disappointment of last season losing in the play-off we have made a lot of changes to the team and our only focus is to win the league.

 

[DAFC2019]

Friendlies​

Ayr 1-3 Leicester
Ayr 0-0 Dunfermline
Ayr 3-2 Cardiff
Ayr 5-1 Glentoran

Reflection: A good pre-season, all about getting the players playing time together and improving fitness. Results have been great aswell which is pleasing.

Betfred Cup​

Aim: The aim is to competitive and try win as many games as we can but im not to bothered if we dont qualify.

Betfred Cup Group
Kilmarnock
Edinburgh City
Stranraer
Falkirk

 

[DAFC2019]

Betfred Cup​

Kilmarnock 0-0 Ayr
(Kilmarnock win 3-2 on pens)

Ayr 2-0 Edinburgh City (G Spence 63, G Harkins 90)

Ayr 2-2 Stranraer (G Holt 64, C Moore 73)
(Ayr win 3-1 on pens)

Falkirk 0-2 Ayr (C Moore 30, 73)
Ayr qualify for second round as they finish top of their group with 9 points, 1 point clear of Kilmarnock

Betfred Cup Group Review: A good solid performances throughout the group stage, we deserved to beat Kilmarnock but obviously penalties let us down. No more signings as of yet.

 

[DAFC2019]

August​

League
Stranraer 0-0 Ayr

Betfed Cup
Dundee United 3-2 Ayr (A Forrest 13, C Moore 68)

League
Stenhousemuir 1-3 Ayr (C Moore 55, G Holt 63, G McGuffie 88)
A debut goal for 19 year old Craig McGuffie after coming on in the 84th minute as a sub

Challenge Cup
Airdrie 0-2 Ayr (C Moore 11, G Spence 90+2)

League
Alloa 0-3 Ayr (G Harkins 5, R Hardie 52, 79)

League
Ayr 2-3 Cowdenbeath (C Moore 9, A Nesbitt 50)
Adam King sent off (88)

League
Ayr 3-0 Arbroath (J Mckee 57, C Higgins 80, C Moore 87)

League
Ayr 1-1 Queen's Park (L *** 45)

End of month review: We currently sit second on 11 points from 6 games, we are 4 points behind Cowdenbeath. We are creating a lot of chances and are relying on Craig Moore far too much. We need to try and stop making errors at the back which are costing us goals. But its been a good start to the season

 

[DAFC2019]

September​

Challenge Cup
Ayr 3-0 Arbroath (G Spence 20, 76, OG 29)

League
East Fife 1-1 Ayr (G Spence 83)

League
Airdrie 0-2 Ayr (C Moore 30, J McKee 69)

League
Ayr 3-3 Brechin (R Hardie 47, 90+3, C Moore 85)

League
Ayr 7-0 Stranraer (R Docherty 2, A Webster 10, A Forrest 32, J Mckee 42, 45+1, R Hardie 46, G Harkins 84)

End of month review: What a month is has been, an unbeaten in month and into the 4th round of the Challenge Cup. We currently sit second after 10 games, 2 points behind Cowdenbeath. We have 5 of our first 10 games, drawn 4 and lost 1.

 

[DAFC2019]

October​

Challenge Cup 4th Round
East Fife 1-2 Ayr (J McKee 53, C Moore 67)

League
Queen's Park 0-0 Ayr

Gary Harkins out injured for 3 months

League
Ayr 2-1 Stenhousemuir (R Hardie 78, 87)
Adam King sent off (45)

End of month review: We have closed the gap on top aide Cowdenbeath to just 1 point, after 12 games we have only been beat once. An unbeaten month, and into the quarter final of the Challenge Cup where we will play Raith Rovers. Our first match of November is away to top of the league Cowdenbeath where we will hopefully get a win and go top.

 

[DAFC2019]

November​

Ayr manager wins Manager of the Month for the first time this season in Octobor

League
Cowdenbeath 0-2 Ayr (G Spence 6, 60)

Challenge Cup Quarter Final
Ayr 2-0 Raith (OG 84, J Mckee 85)

Ayr 4-0 Alloa (R Hardie 28, 39, 64, G Holt 85)

Scottish Cup
Ayr 1-1 Whitehill Welfare (P Cairney 36)
The tie goes to a replay

End of month review: unbeaten month again, 3 wins in 3 games in the league and one of those games againat Cowdenbeath puts us top of the league going into December. Still only lost 1 league game in 14 games. The amount of goals we are scoring amd the amount of clean sheets we are having is very good and im pleased with how the teams playing. We are unbeaten in 14 games in all competitions our last defeat was against Cowdenbeath a 3-2 loss in August. We are currently 2 points clear after 14 league games.