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Anyone who remained in any doubt as to Ayr United's Championship title credentials must surely have had them blown away by Friday night's 5-0 annihilation of Dundee United.

Ian McCall's side swept away one of the pre-season favourites for the title with the type of ruthless performance which has seen them romp five points clear at the top of the table.

It's been an incredible tale for last season's League One champions who were listed among the favourites for an immediate return to the third tier just a few months ago.

Now, with one of the hottest strikers in British football - Lawrence Shankland - leading a goal-laden frontline which also includes Craig Moore and Michael Moffat, it looks like the Honest Men are going to take some shifting.

Last night's win moved them onto 33 points - five ahead of Ross County who have a game in hand and six ahead of United.

There's one big question mark hanging over Ayr's Premiership charge though.

Does their Somerset Park home meet with the criteria to allow clubs to take their place in the top flight?

(Image: Craig Foy/SNS Group) (Image: SNS)

Well, and this may comes as a surprise to some, but in short there are NO minimum seating requirements for the Premiership any more. And, in addition the need for clubs to have undersoil heating is no more.

SPFL secretary Iain Blair confirmed both those heavy investment criteria were removed when the SPL and SFL merged five years ago while adding that standing areas can be used.

Back in the days of the SPL the rules stated that top flight sides required to have 10,000 seats in their stadiums.

It was a controversial rule which deprived Falkirk of promotion in 2003 and saw Inverness and Gretna have to ground share with rival clubs when their stadiums fell short of the required seats.

Those rules were relaxed to 6000 in 2004 and removed altogether in 2013.

(Image: SNS Group)

Now clubs must simply meet the various conditions to have an SFA 'Bronze Standard' licence. That involves infrastructure such as floodlights, disabled facilities and access to the park for players.

Ayr United currently DO meet the bronze standard.

That means, should McCall's men continue to do the job on the park then there should be little to worry them off it.

Somerset Park - 130-years-old this year - might only have 1500 seats. But it's sprawling terracing and crackling atmosphere would certainly add a new dimension to the top flight.

Can Ayr make it? Much will depend on whether they can hold onto 26-goal striker Shankland beyond the January window.