We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ian McCall as the new Ayr United manager. After a rigorous interview process Ian was chosen as the outstanding candidate with the board hugely impressed by his hunger for the challenge, passion and professionalism.

Ian said “This last two years I have really missed the day to day working of football management. Ayr United is still a big name in Scottish football and it should not be a hard sell to bring players to this club. The club is under achieving and my initial aim is a simple one – to start winning matches. My philosophy is always about taking each game on its merits, one week we may be able to play some great football and score a few goals and the next it’s about grinding out a victory.

“We need to stay in this league and in then think about promotion to the Championship and establishing ourselves there. This is a clean slate for all the players, they will have the chance to show me what they can do however I will be looking to bring players in quickly to improve the squad. One of the things I remember as a player and a manager coming to Somerset Park is that it was such a difficult place to come and get a result. The fans behind the home goal made a huge effect on the Ayr players and we need to try and get that back. We need two to three thousand people in this ground.”

Delighted chairman Lachlan Cameron said “ We had three main criteria in our minds, Experience at our level, Working with a budget with financial constraints and working and developing youth. Ian scored very highly in all three areas and combined with his obvious passion for the game we are delighted to welcome him to the club. Ian has been reinvigorated and has a proven ability to work at our level and take control of the club. He also has a huge passion for players and will make a big difference in the dressing room. His enthusiasm is infectious and said to me he is wanting to take us on a ride!”

Ian started his playing career with Queens Park in 1983. From there he moved to Dunfermline, Rangers and then signed for Bradford City for £200,000 before rejoining Dunfermline. His playing career also included spells with Dundee, Falkirk, Hamilton, Happy Valley in Hong Kong and Partick Thistle. His final club as a player was at Clydebank where he was player- manager during the 1997-98 season.

Following the spell at Clydebank Ian moved to become the Morton manager followed by a spell with Airdrieonians where they challenged for promotion to the premier league before the clubs extinction in 2002. A successful spell with Falkirk followed where he was twice offered the Dundee United job, accepting it the second time in 2003. Most recently Ian was the manager at Partick Thistle between 2007 and 2011. In total he has won 17 manager of the month trophies.

Since leaving Partick Thistle Ian has continually worked with the media as a pundit with Radio Clyde as well as writing weekly for the Daily Express. He has also been coaching kids in Glasgow with a variety of coaching schools.