2023–24 Ayr United F.C. season explained

Club:Ayr United
Season:2023–24
Manager:Lee Bullen
(until 15 January)
Scott Brown
(from 23 January)
Stadium:Somerset Park
Chairman:David Smith
League:Scottish Championship
League Result:7th
Cup1:Scottish Cup
Cup1 Result:Fifth round
Cup2:Scottish League Cup
Cup2 Result:Second round
Cup3:Scottish Challenge Cup
Cup3 Result:Third round
League Topscorer:Anton Dowds (13)
Season Topscorer:Anton Dowds (13)
Highest Attendance:3,103, vs. Dundee United, Championship, 26 August 2023
Lowest Attendance:757, vs. Stenhousemuir, League Cup, 18 July 2023
Average Attendance:2,114
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Prevseason:2022−23
Nextseason:2024–25

The 2023–24 season was Ayr United's sixth consecutive season in the Scottish Championship after being promoted from league one in the 2017–18 season. Ayr also competed 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.[4] He was replaced by former Celtic captain Scott Brown.[5]

Results and fixtures

Scottish Championship

See main article: 2023–24 Scottish Championship.

Scottish League Cup

See main article: 2023–24 Scottish League Cup.

Knockout phase

Scottish Challenge Cup

See main article: 2023–24 Scottish Challenge Cup.

Scottish Cup

See main article: 2023–24 Scottish Cup.

Squad statistics

Appearances

[6] |-|colspan="10"|Players who left the club during the 2023–24 season|-|}

Team statistics

League Cup table

Transfers

Transfers in

DatePositionNameFromFeeRef.
5 June 2023GKRobbie MutchEdinburgh CityFree transfer[7]
6 June 2023DF George StangerAlloa Athletic[8]
19 June 2023FWJamie MurphySt Johnstone[9]
24 June 2023FW Franny Amartey Aldershot Town[10]
MF Oliver Pendlebury[11]
21 July 2023MF Aiden McGeadyHibernian
24 July 2023FW Ahkeem Rose Weymouth[12]
29 August 2023MF Roy Syla Brentford[13]
1 March 2024DF Nathan McGinleyMotherwell[14]

Transfers out

DatePositionNameToFeeRef.
31 May 2023DFKinlay BilhamStenhousemuirFree transfer[15] [16]
DFJordan HoustonQueen of the South[17]
DFAlex Jeanes
FWChris Maguire Eastleigh[18]
GKAidan McAdamsEdinburgh City
MFJosh MullinRaith Rovers
24 June 2023MF Daire O'Connor Glentoran[19]
14 July 2023MF Jayden Mitchell-Lawson Maidenhead United[20] [21]
15 July 2023FW Dipo Akinyemi York CityUndisclosed[22]
4 August 2023MFMichael HewittHamilton AcademicalFree transfer[23]
8 August 2023MF David Bangala[24]
23 August 2023FW Sam Ashford Cliftonville[25]
30 August 2023MF Oliver Pendlebury Farnborough[26] [27]
5 January 2024DFFinn EcrepontStranraer[28]

Loans in

DatePositionNameFromEnd dateRef.
4 August 2023DF Elicha Ahui Lincoln City1 February 2024[29]
19 August 2023FWLogan ChalmersDundee United31 May 2024[30]
25 August 2023MF Jack Young Wycombe Wanderers16 January 2024[31]
1 September 2023MF Jack Senga Reading22 January 2024[32]
12 September 2023FWAnton DowdsPartick Thistle31 May 2024[33]
26 January 2024DF Jack SandersKilmarnock[34]
1 February 2024MF Harry McHugh Wigan Athletic[35]
FW Kurt Willoughby Oldham Athletic[36]
24 February 2024GK Josh ClarkeCeltic[37]

Loans out

DatePositionName FromEnd dateRef.
13 July 2023DFLyall HoldingGlenafton Athletic31 May 2024[38]
25 July 2023MFCarter JenkinsGretna 2008
FWDario Viviani
3 August 2023GKDerren FairnsDalry Thistle[39]
13 January 2024GKOllie EcrepontEast Stirlingshire[40]
1 February 2024FW Ahkeem RoseHamilton Academical[41]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ayr United 0−5 Partick Thistle (agg 0−8): Visitors cruise into Premiership play-off final . BBC Sport . 26 May 2023.
  2. Web site: Ayr United 0-5 Partick Thistle: Jags cruise into Scottish Premiership play-off . Sky Sports . 26 May 2023.
  3. Web site: Aiden McGeady: Ayr United appoint veteran winger as player-technical manager . BBC Sport . 21 July 2023 . 21 July 2023.
  4. Web site: Ayr United: Lee Bullen exits as head coach as struggling club condemn abuse of 52-year-old . BBC Sport . 15 January 2024 . 15 January 2024.
  5. Web site: Scott Brown: Ayr United appoint ex-Celtic & Scotland captain as new head coach . BBC Sport . 23 January 2024 . 24 January 2024.
  6. Web site: Ayr United FC Player Appearances . Soccerbase . soccerbase.com . 4 May 2024.
  7. Web site: Robbie Mutch Joins the Honest Men. Ayr United FC. 8 June 2023.
  8. Web site: George Stanger Joins the Honest Men. Ayr United FC. 8 June 2023.
  9. Web site: Ayr United: Honest Men sign Jamie Murphy after St Johnstone release. Ayr Advertiser. 20 June 2023.
  10. Web site: Striker Francis Amartey bids becomes fifth new face of the summer at Ayr United . Stuart . Wilson . Daily Record. 24 June 2023.
  11. Web site: Former England youth captain Olly Pendlebury bids to make mark in Scotland with Ayr United . Stuart . Wilson . Daily Record. 24 June 2023.
  12. Web site: Wilson . Stuart . 2023-07-24 . Ahkeem Rose: I want to stay on goal trail at Ayr United . 2023-07-25 . Daily Record . en.
  13. Web site: Ayr United add another new midfielder as Albanian Roy Syla becomes latest Somerset arrival. Daily Record. 30 August 2023.
  14. Web site: Nathan McGinley joins the honest men . Ayr United FC . ayrunitedfc.co.uk . 1 March 2024 . 1 March 2024.
  15. Web site: Squad Update. Ayr United FC. 1 June 2023.
  16. Web site: Welcome - Kinlay Bilham. Stenhousemuir FC. 1 July 2023.
  17. Web site: Welcome Jordan Houston. Queen of the South FC. 8 June 2023.
  18. Web site: News - Chris Maguire joins the Spitfires. Eastleigh FC. 30 August 2023.
  19. Web site: Transfer News: Daire O'Connor joins Glens. Glentoran FC. 24 June 2023.
  20. Web site: Jayden Mitchell-Lawson. Ayr United FC. 15 July 2023.
  21. Web site: Jayden-Mitchell Lawson signs. Maidenhead United FC. 17 July 2023.
  22. Web site: Dipo Akinyemi Departs Ayr United. Ayr United FC. 15 July 2023.
  23. Web site: Michael Hewitt. Ayr United FC. 4 August 2023.
  24. Web site: David Bangala. Ayr United FC. 12 August 2023.
  25. Web site: Sam and substance. Ayr United FC. 23 August 2023.
  26. Web site: Ayr United midfielder Olly Pendlebury leaves Somerset Park after just two months. Daily Record. 30 August 2023.
  27. Web site: Pendlebury returns!. Farnborough FC. 13 September 2023.
  28. Web site: Ayr United: Finn Ecrepont leaves club for Stranraer. Ayr Advertiser. 6 January 2024.
  29. Web site: Wilson . Stuart . 2023-08-03 . Elicha Ahui bids to enhance growing reputation during Ayr United loan . 2023-08-04 . Daily Record . en.
  30. Web site: 19 August 2023 . Logan Chalmers joins Ayr United on loan . 19 August 2023 . Dundee United FC . en.
  31. Web site: 25 August 2023 . Wycombe Wanderers' Jack Young joins Ayr United on loan . 26 August 2023 . Bucks Free Press . en.
  32. Web site: 1 September 2023 . Senga seals loan move to Ayr United . 2 September 2023 . Reading FC . en.
  33. Web site: 12 September 2023 . Anton Dowds heads to Ayr on loan . 13 September 2023 . Partick Thistle FC . en.
  34. Web site: 12 September 2023 . Ayr United sign Jack Sanders from Kilmarnock on loan deal until end of season . 26 January 2024 . Daily Record . en.
  35. Web site: 12 September 2023 . Harry McHugh joins Ayr United on loan . 1 February 2024 . wiganathletic.com . en.
  36. Web site: Kurt Willoughby . x.com . Ayr United FC . 1 February 2024 . 2 February 2024.
  37. Web site: 12 September 2023 . Josh Clarke Signs . 24 February 2024 . x.com . en.
  38. Web site: Holding Signs! . Glenafton Athletic FC. 2 August 2023.
  39. Web site: Derren Fairns Signs! . Dalry Thistle FC. 6 January 2024.
  40. Web site: Welcome Ollie! . East Stiringshire FC. 18 January 2024.
  41. Web site: Ahkeem Rose . x.com . Ayr United FC . 1 February 2024 . 2 February 2024.

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