Ayr United
2023–24 season
ChairmanDavid Smith
ManagerLee Bullen
(until 15 January)
StadiumSomerset Park
Scottish League CupSecond round
Scottish Challenge CupThird round

The 2023–24 season is Ayr United's sixth consecutive season in the Scottish Championship after being promoted from league one in the 2017–18 season. Ayr will also compete in the, League Cup, Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Summary

Season

Lee Bullen takes charge of Ayr United for the second season in a row following their defeat to Partick Thistle in the semi-final of the Premiership play-off.[1][2]

On 21 July, the club announced the singing of veteran winger Aiden McGeady on a two-year contract to serve as both a member of the playing squad and the club's technical manager.[3]

On 15 January, manager Lee Bullen was sacked following a run of poor results."Ayr United: Lee Bullen exits as head coach as struggling club condemn abuse of 52-year-old". BBC Sport. 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.</ref>

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season

8 July 2023 Ayr United 2–0 Stranraer Ayr
13:30 Murphy 18'
McAllister 90'		 Stadium: Dam Park
11 July 2023 East Kilbride 0–2 Ayr United East Kilbride
19:30 McKenzie 3'
Murphy 53'		 Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
22 July 2023 Troon 1–1 Ayr United Troon
15:00 Stadium: Portland Park
Note: Testimonal match for Dean Keenan

Scottish Championship

5 August 2023 1 Greenock Morton 3–1 Ayr United Greenock
15:00 Crawford 62'
Muirhead 75 pen.'
Boyd 87'		 Report Pendlebury 51' Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 2,512
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
12 August 2023 2 Ayr United 1–0 Inverness CT Ayr
15:00 Amartey 8' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,989
Referee: Peter Stuart
26 August 2023 3 Ayr United 0–3 Dundee United Ayr
15:00 Report Holt 58', 90'
Moult 62'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 3,103
Referee: Nick Walsh
2 September 2023 4 Arbroath 2–1 Ayr United Arbroath
15:00 Bird 21'
Hylton 82'		 Report Rose 45+3' Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,643
Referee: Colin Steven
15 September 2023 5 Ayr United 0–4 Partick Thistle Ayr
19:45 Report Graham 2'
Lawless 58', 67'
Adeloye 81'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,078
Referee: William Collum
22 September 2023 6 Queen's Park 2–5 Ayr United Glasgow
19:45 Paton 28'
Hepburn 52'		 Report Chalmers 6', 12'
Rose 32'
Murphy 44'
Dowds 53'		 Stadium: Hampden Park
Attendance: 1,651
Referee: David Dickinson
30 September 2023 7 Ayr United 1–2 Raith Rovers Ayr
15:00 Dowds 50' Report Easton 23', 26' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,848
Referee: David Munro
7 October 2023 8 Airdrieonians 1–2 Ayr United Airdrie
15:00 McGregor 67' Report Chalmers 21'
Dowds 53'		 Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 1,618
Referee: Iain Snedden
21 October 2023 9 Dunfermline Athletic 0–1 Ayr United Dunfermline
15:00 Report Chalmers 10' Stadium: East End Park
Attendance: 5,073
Referee: David Munro
28 October 2023 10 Ayr United 0–1 Greenock Morton Ayr
15:00 Report Oakley 87' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,212
Referee: Peter Stuart
31 October 2023 11 Partick Thistle 2–2 Ayr United Glasgow
19:45 Graham 17'
Milne 47'		 Report Murphy 19', 75 pen.' Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,428
Referee: Ross Hardie
4 November 2023 12 Ayr United 2–2 Queen's Park Ayr
15:00 Dowds 23', 38' Report Bannon 58'
Paton 90+5'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,046
Referee: William Collum
11 November 2023 13 Inverness CT 3–1 Ayr United Inverness
15:00 Wotherspoon 32', 43'
Mckay 45+3 pen.'		 Report Murphy 61 pen.' Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,259
Referee: Iain Snedden
9 December 2023 15 Dundee United 1–0 Ayr United Dundee
15:00 Fotheringham 37' Report Stadium: Tannadice Park
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Nick Walsh
16 December 2023 16 Ayr United 1–0 Airdrieonians Ayr
15:00 Dowds 15' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,726
Referee: Peter Stuart
22 December 2023 17 Raith Rovers 4–4 Ayr United Kirkcaldy
19:45 Stanton 30'
Vaughan 45', 81 pen.', 90+1'		 Report McGeady 10'
McGinty Red card 43'
Dempsey 55'
Chalmers 63'
Rose 85'		 Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 3,698
Referee: Craig Napier
30 December 2023 18 Ayr United 2–2 Dunfermline Athletic Ayr
15:00 McGeady 41'
Stanger 63'		 Report Jakubiak 3', 9' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,022
Referee: Ross Hardie
2 January 2024 19 Greenock Morton 3–0 Ayr United Greenock
15:00 Muirhead 35', 57', 59' Report Stadium: Cappielow
Attendance: 2,252
Referee: Duncan Williams
6 January 2024 20 Ayr United 1–3 Inverness CT Ayr
15:00 Chalmers 65' Report McKay 29'
Boyes 55', 63'		 Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,826
Referee: Gavin Duncan
13 January 2024 21 Arbroath 0–0 Ayr United Arbroath
15:00 Report Stadium: Gayfield Park
Attendance: 1,598
Referee: Euan Anderson
23 January 2024 14 Ayr United v Arbroath Ayr
19:45 Stadium: Somerset Park
Note: Match postponed due to a frozen pitch.
27 January 2024 22 Queen's Park v Ayr United Glasgow
15:00 Stadium: Hampden Park

Scottish League Cup

Group stage

15 July 2023 1 Stirling Albion 1–1
(3–4 p)		 Ayr United Stirling
15:00 McGeachie 21' Report Bryden 84' Stadium: Forthbank Stadium
Attendance: 791
Referee: Steven Kirkland
18 July 2023 2 Ayr United 1–0 Stenhousemuir Cumnock
15:00 McKenzie 27' Report Stadium: Townhead Park
Attendance: 757
Referee: William Collum
25 July 2023 2 St Johnstone 1–2 Ayr United Perth
19:45 Kucheriavyi 43' Report Stanger 29'
Dempsey 71'		 Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 2,669
Referee: Nick Walsh
29 July 2023 4 Ayr United 6–0 Alloa Athletic Ayr
15:00 Bryden 14', 62'
McAllister 37'
Murphy 45+1'
Pendlebury 70'
Rose 84'		 Report Hetherington Red card 73' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,498
Referee: Don Robertson

Knockout phase

19 August 2023 Second round Livingston 2–0 Ayr United Livingston
15:00 Nouble 12'
Montaño 64'		 Report Stadium: Tony Macaroni Arena
Attendance: 1,304
Referee: Kevin Clancy

Scottish Challenge Cup

5 September 2023 Third round Ayr United 0–1 Falkirk Ayr
19:45 Syla Red card 70' Report Henderson 30' Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,423
Referee: Steve Kirkland

Scottish Cup

25 November 2023 Third round Peterhead 1–2 Ayr United Peterhead
15:00 Shanks 50' Report McGinty 90+6'
Bryden 116'		 Stadium: Balmoor Stadium
Attendance: 820
Referee: Steven Kirkland
20 January 2024 Fourth round Ayr United 0–1 Kelty Hearts Ayr
15:00 Stadium: Somerset Park

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 13 January 2024[4]
No. Pos Nat Player TotalChampionshipLeague CupChallenge CupScottish Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK England ENG Charlie Albinson 17014+002+000+001+00
2 DF Scotland SCO Nick McAllister 17112+003+010+101+00
3 DF Scotland SCO Patrick Reading 26020+004+100+001+00
4 DF Zambia ZAM Frankie Musonda 1208+201+000+001+00
5 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Sean McGinty 25218+015+001+001+01
6 MF Scotland SCO Andy Murdoch 401+003+000+000+00
8 MF England ENG Ben Dempsey 1429+014+010+001+00
9 FW Jamaica JAM Ahkeem Rose 2048+931+111+000+00
10 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Aiden McGeady 1426+521+001+001+00
11 FW Scotland SCO Logan Chalmers 19617+060+101+000+00
14 DF New Zealand NZL George Stanger 20214+015+011+000+00
15 FW Scotland SCO Jamie Murphy 21515+144+010+001+00
16 FW Scotland SCO Anton Dowds 15614+060+000+001+00
17 FW England ENG Franny Amartey 2315+1214+100+001+00
18 MF Scotland SCO Paul Smith 1604+703+100+000+10
19 GK Scotland SCO Ollie Ecrepont 000+000+000+000+00
20 MF Albania ALB Roy Syla 17012+300+001+001+00
21 DF Scotland SCO Finn Ecrepont 800+301+201+000+10
22 FW Scotland SCO Mark McKenzie 2219+605+010+100+10
23 MF Belgium BEL Jack Senga 1105+500+001+000+00
24 MF Scotland SCO Scott Tomlinson 700+300+300+100+00
27 FW Scotland SCO Max Guthrie 000+000+000+000+00
30 FW Scotland SCO Fraser Bryden 2043+1003+230+100+11
31 GK Scotland SCO Robbie Mutch 1006+003+001+000+00
32 MF Scotland SCO Dylan Watret 100+001+000+000+00
38 DF England ENG Elicha Ahui 1409+300+001+000+10
46 MF England ENG Jack Young 19011+600+001+000+10
Players who left the club during the 2023–24 season
16 MF England ENG Oliver Pendlebury 620+212+210+000+00
20 MF Scotland SCO Michael Hewitt 200+001+100+000+00
23 FW England ENG Sam Ashford 601+100+400+000+00
29 MF Democratic Republic of the Congo COD David Bangala 100+000+100+000+00
33 MF Scotland SCO Carter Jenkins 000+000+000+000+00
34 FW Scotland SCO Dario Viviani 000+000+000+000+00

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
6 Dunfermline Athletic 19 6 5 8 24 24 0 23
7 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 21 5 6 10 23 25 −2 21
8 Queen's Park 20 5 5 10 26 39 −13 20
9 Ayr United 20 5 5 10 25 38 −13 20 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
10 Arbroath 20 5 3 12 23 40 −17 18 Relegation to League One
Updated to match(es) played on 13 January 2024. Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[6]

League Cup table

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AYR STI STJ STE ALL
1 Ayr United 4 3 1 0 0 10 2 +8 11 Qualification for the second round — — — 1–0 6–0
2 Stirling Albion 4 3 0 1 0 9 3 +6 10 1–1p — — 2–1 —
3 St Johnstone 4 1 0 0 3 5 7 −2 3 1–2 0–4 — — —
4 Stenhousemuir 4 1 0 0 3 3 6 −3 3 — — 1–0 — 1–3
5 Alloa Athletic 4 1 0 0 3 4 13 −9 3 — 1–2 0–4 — —
Source: [7]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[8]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
5 June 2023 GK Robbie Mutch Edinburgh City Free transfer [9]
6 June 2023 DF New Zealand George Stanger Alloa Athletic [10]
19 June 2023 FW Jamie Murphy St Johnstone [11]
24 June 2023 FW England Franny Amartey England Aldershot Town [12]
MF England Oliver Pendlebury [13]
21 July 2023 MF Republic of Ireland Aiden McGeady Hibernian [3]
24 July 2023 FW Jamaica Ahkeem Rose England Weymouth [14]
29 August 2023 MF Albania Roy Syla England Brentford [15]

Transfers out

Date Position Name To Fee Ref.
31 May 2023 DF Kinlay Bilham Stenhousemuir Free transfer [16][17]
DF Jordan Houston Queen of the South [16][18]
DF Alex Jeanes [16]
FW Chris Maguire England Eastleigh [16][19]
GK Aidan McAdams Edinburgh City [16]
MF Josh Mullin Raith Rovers [16]
24 June 2023 MF Republic of Ireland Daire O'Connor Northern Ireland Glentoran [20]
14 July 2023 MF England Jayden Mitchell-Lawson England Maidenhead United [21][22]
15 July 2023 FW England Dipo Akinyemi England York City Undisclosed [23]
4 August 2023 MF Michael Hewitt Hamilton Academical Free transfer [24]
8 August 2023 MF Democratic Republic of the Congo David Bangala [25]
23 August 2023 FW England Sam Ashford Northern Ireland Cliftonville [26]
30 August 2023 MF England Oliver Pendlebury England Farnborough [27][28]
5 January 2024 DF Finn Ecrepont Stranraer [29]

Loans in

Date Position Name From End date Ref.
4 August 2023 DF England Elicha Ahui England Lincoln City 31 May 2024 [30]
19 August 2023 FW Logan Chalmers Dundee United [31]
25 August 2023 MF England Jack Young England Wycombe Wanderers [32]
1 September 2023 MF Belgium Jack Senga England Reading [33]
12 September 2023 FW Anton Dowds Partick Thistle [34]

Loans out

Date Position Name From End date Ref.
13 July 2023 DF Lyall Holding Glenafton Athletic 31 May 2024 [35]
25 July 2023 MF Carter Jenkins Gretna 2008
FW Dario Viviani
3 August 2023 GK Derren Fairns Dalry Thistle [36]

References

  1. ↑ "Ayr United 0−5 Partick Thistle (agg 0−8): Visitors cruise into Premiership play-off final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Ayr United 0-5 Partick Thistle: Jags cruise into Scottish Premiership play-off". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Aiden McGeady: Ayr United appoint veteran winger as player-technical manager". BBC Sport. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "cinch Championship Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  7. ↑ "Summary - League Cup Group A". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. ↑ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "Robbie Mutch Joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "George Stanger Joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ayr United: Honest Men sign Jamie Murphy after St Johnstone release". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  12. ↑ Wilson, Stuart. "Striker Francis Amartey bids becomes fifth new face of the summer at Ayr United". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  13. ↑ Wilson, Stuart. "Former England youth captain Olly Pendlebury bids to make mark in Scotland with Ayr United". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  14. ↑ Wilson, Stuart (2023-07-24). "Ahkeem Rose: I want to stay on goal trail at Ayr United". Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
  15. ↑ "Ayr United add another new midfielder as Albanian Roy Syla becomes latest Somerset arrival". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Squad Update". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Welcome - Kinlay Bilham". Stenhousemuir FC. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  18. ↑ "Welcome Jordan Houston". Queen of the South FC. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "News - Chris Maguire joins the Spitfires". Eastleigh FC. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Transfer News: Daire O'Connor joins Glens". Glentoran FC. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "Jayden Mitchell-Lawson". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "Jayden-Mitchell Lawson signs". Maidenhead United FC. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  23. ↑ "Dipo Akinyemi Departs Ayr United". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  24. ↑ "Michael Hewitt". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  25. ↑ "David Bangala". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  26. ↑ "Sam and substance". Ayr United FC. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  27. ↑ "Ayr United midfielder Olly Pendlebury leaves Somerset Park after just two months". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  28. ↑ "Pendlebury returns!". Farnborough FC. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  29. ↑ "Ayr United: Finn Ecrepont leaves club for Stranraer". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  30. ↑ Wilson, Stuart (2023-08-03). "Elicha Ahui bids to enhance growing reputation during Ayr United loan". Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  31. ↑ "Logan Chalmers joins Ayr United on loan". Dundee United FC. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  32. ↑ "Wycombe Wanderers' Jack Young joins Ayr United on loan". Bucks Free Press. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  33. ↑ "Senga seals loan move to Ayr United". Reading FC. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  34. ↑ "Anton Dowds heads to Ayr on loan". Reading FC. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  35. ↑ "Holding Signs!". Glenafton Athletic FC. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  36. ↑ [hhttps://twitter.com/Dalry_ThistleFC/status/1687203742234607616 "Derren Fairns Signs!"]. Dalry Thistle FC. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
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