AUFC 1910

We have to give the gaffer time and trust his judgement. I’m sure there will be enough of us inside Somerset from the start of the season to make our feelings known if he doesn’t come good. And after what happened last season, we are not going to suffer fools gladly, so let’s all just stop wetting our knickers before a ball is kicked. And cheer the f**k up for goodness sake. We stayed up and we have 4 Ayrshire league derbies next season.

When will season tickets be on sale???

A MASSIVE congratulations to all Dundee lads and lassies. Thought you played amazing in both legs. Absolutely blew Kilmarnock away. Enjoy your summer and all the best for next season. Oh, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for 4 Ayrshire derbies next season

Dundee United maybe?

Looks like Morton again next season. if only we could add Killie too, all closer for travelling - hopefully

I wonder if we will hear any signing / not signing news today. Did I read it wrong or was there not a few players given an offer and a week to decide?

We are all Dundee!!!!!!

Ayr United announce partnership with Burnley Ayr United are delighted to announce a new strategic partnership with Burnley Football Club. Burnley are today announcing strategic partners in all four corners of the British Isles including ourselves, Cobh Ramblers, Portadown and Llandudno. The partner clubs will benefit from Burnley's football expertise in development and education of their coaches and players, sharing of data across youth academies and sport science and access to tools such as AiSCOUT. In return Burnley will widen its scouting network for talent identification in the partner clubs’ region, with the most talented young players from each club travelling regularly to Burnley for football camps and assessment when identified. All clubs’ academies and women’s teams will compete in a summer pre-season games and tournaments, while loan deals for Burnley’s academy players to gain experience at senior levels will also be considered. United Chairman David Smith said :"This is a hugely exciting opportunity for our club and we are looking forward to the learning journey we have ahead through the Burnley Partnership. As a football club and a business we spend a lot of time bench-marking ourselves against our peers, pushing innovative ideas and generally keeping us moving in a positive direction. The chance to get close to a hugely successful club like Burnley is something we want to grab with both hands to learn what works and what doesn’t at their level and see what can work at ours. The positive pathways available to our young talent, the chance to enhance our own player resources, learning experiences for coaches / staff and all the other benefits around tournaments, friendlies and the community make this a fabulous opportunity. Our U16’s are eagerly looking forward to the Barnfield Festival on the 22nd / 23rdMay and an experience like this will help shape and mould our future players. All the discussions with Burnley have been refreshingly aligned with our own Ayr United ethos and I’d like to thank Matt Williams and Alan Pace for the opportunity. The Burnley brand represents everything we respect in football and look forward to an exciting partnership with them, Cobh Ramblers, Portadown and Llandudno over the coming seasons." Alan Pace, Chairman of Burnley F.C., said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to grow Burnley’s footprint and profile in every corner of the British Isles and benefit from working with some fantastic clubs on our doorstep. “We look forward to developing a strong working relationship with Ayr United, Cobh Ramblers, Portadown and Llandudno which will no doubt benefit the clubs, the coaches and their players for many years to come. “This is very much the first step in our plans to expand the football network of Burnley, build the relevance of our club beyond the North West of England and ensure that Burnley’s academy continues to be a high-performance hotbed for future first team players and international footballers.” The development of coaches will be central to Burnley’s work at the partner clubs – the club will provide hands-on support in creating best practice structures to implement professional coaching in line with Burnley’s Category 1 Premier League academy. Long-term, the goal of the strategic partnerships is to create player pathways into the Premier League for the best players. Portadown were twice winners of the NIFL Championship Development League South from 2017-19 while previous academy graduates of Cobh Ramblers include Premier League stars Roy Keane and Stephen Ireland. Matt Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Burnley F.C, added: “While there are clear benefits to the football side of the club, I believe there will also be significant benefits both operationally and commercially for all sides, none of us are naïve enough to think we know it all, and I am sure we can learn from our partner Clubs as much as they can learn from us. “We wanted to partner with clubs we felt would fit with what we stand for. The four Clubs are at the heart of their local communities, have a passionate fan base and have chairmen and directors, who like Alan Pace and his team are ambitious and constantly looking to improve. “We have developed a great understanding with Portadown in recent seasons and this is a natural step for us both and our relationship with Cobh can be traced back to 1921 when the Clarets were crowned League Champions prompting the newly formed Club in Ireland to wear the famous Claret and Blue, in addition they are currently managed by our former defender Stuart Ashton. “Like ourselves Ayr have a relatively new Chairman who has a real ambition to push the Club forward and challenge for promotion to the Scottish Premiership whilst our friends at Llandudno are keen implement a professional approach to their Club and I couldn’t be more delighted to welcome the four teams on the journey with us.”

That’s it Robbo, just dangle that line in the water, just enough to attract attention, but not too much. It actually keeps us all sane in here [emoji1303][emoji1303][emoji1303]

Sounds like that guy on the bus you hope doesn’t make eye contact with you, and makes everybody else nervous

No

We all moaned like f**k when the club didn’t offer 2 year deals. We all rejoiced when the club started handing out 2 year deals. Now some want us to tear up some 2 year deals. You win some and you lose some.

As I said in an earlier post, we lost the ‘cement’ that held everything together with the likes of Adams, Bell, Geggan & Doch. Maybe the gaffer sees those retained as needing that cement added to them and can produce a decent team. On paper it’s not unrealistic. 4 new players, all winners, all ‘captains’ that will take no slackers or shite on the pitch is what we need.

So, so sad to hear about Sludden. So honoured to have been going to the games when he was at Ayr - had just started secondary school at Ayr Academy and was brilliant times for me as a kid. Can still remember standing behind the goals when he would tap the ball in and kiss the badge running up to all us fans in the Somerset Road end. R.I.P. John

Our manager has a proven track record in being successful in the championship. Let’s not lose sight of that. Stating the obvious here but if improvement isn’t made next season, and things are looking dire at Christmas, he’ll be gone. I’m confident that even Rab Reilly could muster a better squad dynamic than last seasons so I’m optimistic. And, with no real standout from last season (everyone was beating everyone else) we have as much a chance as anyone. I think it will all come down to the right balance of players and player types - last season has showed us that in abundance - CVs go for nothing as an individual. AND, if my prayers (and the director’s) are answered, and Killie get relegated then happy days and bring it on - I think after Covid and last season’s shit-show, we all deserve a taste of pleasurable football days.

If they are having gigs in Liverpool with no social distancing and no masks, I’m sure we will be able to get into the ground - even with masks on

Swapsies?

I want to buy a lifetime membership of the supporters club bar, I want a seat with my name on it and a vip pass to get served at my table - anyone else in?

I think the planets are aligning!!!

This season has been like being in a falling lift, hurtling down the lift shaft from August last year, only for it to stop suddenly as you are about to crash into the ground, the door opens with a wee bell ring, and Hopkins big red coupon pops his head with a big smile on his face, “going up?”

Ironic that, we were saying that about you not that long ago

Partick will be throwing every penny they can at challenging for the title I’m sure.