Last updated on .From the section Ayr

Ian McCall has been Ayr United manager since 2015

Ian McCall is set to become Partick Thistle manager for the second time.

Ayr United revealed they are in discussions with their Scottish Championship rivals to agree terms as Somerset Park boss McCall told them he wished to speak to the Firhill club.

McCall, 54, previously managed Partick Thistle between 2007 and 2011, and was also a player at Firhill.

"It's not in limbo, I think it's a done deal," Ayr owner Lachlan Cameron told BBC Scotland.

"Obviously it's disappointing, I didn't want it to happen, nobody did. But as part of his contract negotiations for his current contract, part of the deal to keep him was that we agreed between us if somebody came calling,

"I'd always give him the opportunity to speak to them- most of them he has turned down, but this one he didn't."

Sandy Stewart has agreed to take over the first team manager's role in the interim at Somerset Park, with Mark Kerr as assistant.

Partick Thistle identified McCall as the man they want to replace Gary Caldwell, with another former Firhill manager, Alan Archibald, a contender to assist him.

Archibald was dismissed by Thistle last October following a poor start to life in the second tier, having suffered relegation the previous season. It ended his near-seven-year stint at the helm.

Thistle were routed at home by Dunfermline Athletic on Saturday to slip to the bottom of the league.

Clyde boss Danny Lennon extended his contract until 2021-22 amidst interest from Partick Thistle in him.

Thistle had been denied permission to speak to former player Lennon.