Ayr United

Last Match Paid

Championship

Round 9

Ayr United 0 - 1 Inverness CT

2022-10-01 15:00 More Reports

Next Match Paid

Championship

Round 10

Ayr Unitedvs. Queen's Park

2022-10-08 15:00:00 More Previews

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Season Guide

2022/2023

Ayr United

In

David Bangala (def) Pohronie; Frankie Musonda (def) Raith Rovers; Ben Dempsey (mid) Charlton Athletic - loan to permanent; Jayden Mitchell-Lawson (mid) Swindon Town; Dipo Akinyemi (att) Welling United; Alex Kirk (def) Arsenal - loan;

Out

Aaron Muirhead (def) Partick Thistle; Jack Baird (def) Greenock Morton; Michael Miller (mid) Stenhousemuir; Markus Fjortoft (def); Tomi Adeloye (att); Ryan Gondoh (mid); Alex Kenyon (mid); Kerr McInroy (mid) Celtic – loan ended; James Maxwell (def) Rangers – loan ended; Blaine Rowe (def) Coventry City – loan ended;

Ayr struggled last season, but they survived and start the new season with renewed ambition. They started with David Hopkin in charge, but he abruptly left and was replaced by Jim Duffy. Results failed to improve, and Lee Bullen took charge and eventually saw Ayr to safety with little to spare. An opening derby defeat from Kilmarnock set the tone for the season as Ayr were never to climb higher than 6th place. Apart from an amazing 4-0 win at Raith Rovers, goals were difficult to find. Ayr produced only 1 win in their final 8 fixtures, but it proved enough to claim 8th place and survival. Ayr’s defence will need recast with Baird, Fjortoft and Muirhead all departing. Rangers loanee James Maxwell will also leave a big gap to fill. Influential on-loan midfielder McInroy has moved on to Kilmarnock with top scorer Adeloye (11 goals) also declining the chance to stay. Joining Ayr is striker Akinyemi from Welling United with a good recent scoring record of 28 goals in 62 appearances. French midfielder Bangala joins from Slovakian top-flight team Pohronie along with winger Jayden Mitchell-Lawson who had 24 appearances for Swindon Town last season. Frankie Musonda will bolster their defence after a solid season at Raith Rovers. Arsenal prospect Alex King arrives on loan and is hopeful of regular starts. Ayr have lost a lot of experience and a lot of responsibility is being placed on Akinyemi to produce a flying start and goals. It’s expected Ayr will add further loan signings to bolster their squad. Overall the squad has not been strengthened for the challenge ahead.

Target

Ayr must be looking towards the top half of the table and avoiding another prolonged scrap that they endured last season.

Season Review

2020/2021

№8: Ayr United

A troubled season for Ayr saw them finish in 8th place and avoid the relegation play-offs on goal difference. Yet, they started the season well and had hopes of contesting the promotion play-off to the Premiership. One defeat in the opening 7 matches had them established in the top 4. After that bright opening, only 1 win in the next 10 matches sealed player/manager Mark Kerr’s fate. A series of 3 consecutive defeats at home without scoring a goal saw him depart by mutual consent. Kerr often seemed undecided if he should pick himself. Ayr had failed to replace striker Lawrence Shankland during the summer. Midfielder Luke McCowan finished as top scorer with only 5 goals. They were mentally weak in defence and were prone to late collapses. Shortly after Kerr’s departure, former Morton manager David Hopkin was appointed to the post. Apart from a win at Dundee, performances failed to improve with a 4-0 defeat at Arbroath proving hard to stomach for Ayr’s fans. Ayr had just 1 win in their final 10 matches of the season (W1 D6 L3) and failed to win any of their last 7 at home. However, a 2-2 draw at Inverness on the final day ensured 8th place on goal difference. Finances are tight at Ayr and it is difficult to see how they can improve next season. At least McCowan is breaking through, but they still require a striker who creates and takes chances.