2009–10 Ayr United F.C. season

Ayr United

2009–10 season
Chairman	Lachlan Cameron
Manager	Brian Reid
First Division	Tenth place (Relegated)
Scottish Cup	Fifth round, lost to Dundee
League Cup	Second round, lost to St Mirren
Challenge Cup	First round, lost to Albion Rovers
Top goalscorer	League: Mark Roberts (8) All: Mark Roberts (9)
Home colours Away colours
← 2009–09 2010–11 →

The 2009–10 season was the 100th season of competitive football by Ayr United.

In the 2009–10 season, Ayr United celebrated their centennial year by gaining promotion to The First Division after the play-off victory at The Excelsior Stadium against Airdrie United. Ayr were promoted after a five-year stint in the Second Division. Airdrie United were later rewarded First Division status after Livingston were double-relegated to the Fourth Tier of Scottish football for financial reasons. Ayr were promoted along with Fife side Raith Rovers; the other club joining the First Division after being absent for half a decade are Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who were relegated from the SPL at the end of the 2008–09 season. Ayr United were relegated at the end of the season when they finished bottom of the league.

  Win   Draw   Loss

SV Wacker Burghausen v Ayr United

11 July 2009 Friendly	SV Wacker Burghausen	0–3	Ayr United	Bischofshofen, Austria
				Attendance: 0

Ayr United v Unirea Urziceni

15 July 2009 Friendly	Ayr United	1–2	Unirea Urziceni	Somerset Park, Ayr
				Attendance: 970

Ayr United v St Mirren F.C.

18 July 2009 Friendly	Ayr United	0–1	St Mirren F.C.	Somerset Park, Ayr
				Attendance: 1,183

Ayr United v St Johnstone

20 July 2009 Friendly	Ayr United	0–2	St Johnstone	Somerset Park, Ayr
				Attendance: 581

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  SCO Stephen Grindlay — GK  SCO Craig Samson — DF  SCO Andy Aitken — DF  SCO Martyn Campbell — DF  SCO Billy Gibson — DF  SCO Kevin James — MF  SCO Ryan Borris — MF  ENG Steve Bowey

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  SCO Kenny Connolly — MF  SCO William Easton — MF  SCO Dean Keenan — MF  SCO Alistair Woodburn — FW  SCO Tam McManus — FW  MSR Junior Mendes — FW  SCO Mark Roberts

	Name	Occupation
	Lachlan Cameron	Chairman
	Brian Reid	Manager
	Scott MacKenzie	Assistant Manager
	Kevin MacLellan	Physio
	David Johnstone	Fitness Coach
	Dr. Kirk Russell	Club Doctor
	Davie Harkness	Groundsman

	Name	Apps	Goals
	Mark Roberts	26	9	FW
	Tam McManus	8	5	FW
	Ryan Stevenson	21	3	MF
	Daniel McKay	6	2	FW
	Andy Aitken	19	2	DF
	Chris Aitken	18	1	MF
	Ryan McGowan	18	1	MF
	Kenny Connolly	23	1	MF
	Willie Easton	18	1	MF
	Daniel Lafferty	4	1	DF
	Steve Bowey	6	1	MF
	Stephen Reynolds	4	1	FW

Players in Italics have now left the club

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  NIR Daniel Lafferty (on loan from Celtic) — DF  AUS Ryan McGowan (on loan from Hearts) — DF  SCO Chris Mitchell (on loan from Falkirk) — MF  AUS Rocky Visconte (on loan from Hearts) — FW  SCO Daniel McKay (on loan from Kilmarnock) — FW  SCO Stephen Reynolds (on loan from St Johnstone)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  SCO David Mitchell (On Loan to Stranraer) — MF  SCO Scott Agnew (On Loan to Stranraer) — FW  SCO Kevin Cawley (On Loan to Stranraer)

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  SCO Neil McGowan (Now At Clyde) — MF  SCO David O'Brien (Now At Stirling Albion) — MF  SCO Chris Aitken (Now At Stirling Albion) — MF  SCO Ryan Stevenson (Now At Hearts)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  SCO Bryan Prunty (Now At Alloa Athletic) — FW  SCO David Gormley (Now At Alloa Athletic)

Boss Brian Reid made many changes to the squad during the Close-Season, bringing in Kevin James from St Johnstone, Kevin Cawley from Celtic, Craig Samson from Hereford United, Andy Aitken from Queen of the South, Billy Gibson from Clyde and David O'Brien from Dundee (Who only played one game before joining Stirling Albion) and departing were Scott Walker to join Alloa Athletic, Murray Henderson who went to sign for Stranraer, Alex Williams moving to Irish Club Dundalk, Allan Dempsie re-joining Elgin City and goalkeeper Fraser Stewart. There were many changes to the squad throughout the course of the season bringing several loan signings such as Australian Ryan McGowan a defensive-midfielder from Hearts, Stephen Reynolds a 20-year-old striker from St Johnstone brought in for one month as an emergency loan signing, Rocky Visconte another Australian from Hearts, Chris Mitchell a Scotland Under-21 defender, Daniel McKay from local-rivals Kilmarnock and Daniel Lafferty from Celtic. Brian Reid also David Mitchell out on loan to Stranraer to the end of the season, another player to leave the club on a temporary basis was Scott Agnew who joined Alloa Athletic until January then signed for Stranraer for the duration of the season. Players leaving the club on a permanent basis were Bryan Prunty and David Gormley who both joined Alloa, Chris Aitken who re-joined previous club Stirling Albion, Neil McGowan who signed for Clyde and fans-favourite Ryan Stevenson who joined SPL club Hearts for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £10k. players joining the club included Steve Bowey from English side Bedlington Terriers, Tam McManus from Derry City and Montserrat international Junior Mendes.

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