2019–20 Ayr United F.C. season

The 2019–20 season was Ayr United's 2nd season in the Scottish Championship after being promoted from league one in the 2017–18 season. Ayr also competed in the Challenge Cup, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.[1] On 13 March 2020 all SPFL leagues were indefinitely suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.[2]

Ayr United
2019–20 season
ChairmanLachlan Cameron
ManagerIan McCall
(Until 23 September)
Mark Kerr
StadiumSomerset Park
Scottish ChampionshipFourth place
(As of 15 April 2020)
Scottish League CupGroup stage
Scottish Challenge CupThird round
Scottish CupFifth round

Summary

Season

Ayr began the season on 3 August 2019 and was scheduled to end on 2 May 2020.[3] On 8 April 2020, the SPFL proposed to end the 2019–20 season by utilising a points per game ratio to determine the final standings.[4] The plan was approved on 15 April 2020, declaring that the season was over, with Dundee United being named as title winners and relegating Partick Thistle to League One.[5]

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish Championship
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Championship
3 August 2019 Match 1 Ayr United 4–2 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report
Attendance: 1,935
Referee: Gavin Duncan
10 August 2019 Match 2 Dundee 1–0 Ayr United Dens Park, Dundee
15:00
Report Attendance: 5,520
Referee: Alan Newlands
24 August 2019 Match 3 Ayr United 1–0 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report Attendance: 2,005
Referee: Steven Kirkland
31 August 2019 Match 4 Partick Thistle 2–3 Ayr United Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
15:00
Report
Attendance: 3,060
Referee: Andrew Dallas
14 September 2019 Match 5 Ayr United 2–0 Dundee United Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report Attendance: 3,167
Referee: Bobby Madden
21 September 2019 Match 6 Alloa Athletic 1–4 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00
Report
Attendance: 902
Referee: David Lowe
28 September 2019 Match 7 Arbroath 0–3 Ayr United Gayfield Park, Arbroath
15:00 Report
Attendance: 1,105
Referee: Grant Irvine
5 October 2019 Match 8 Ayr United 0–2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report
Attendance: 1,912
Referee: Steven McLean
19 October 2019 Match 9 Dunfermline Athletic 3–2 Ayr United East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00
Report
Attendance: 3,905
Referee: Alan Muir (referee)
25 October 2019 Match 10 Ayr United 1–2 Dundee Somerset Park, Ayr
19:05
Report
Attendance: 1,627
Referee: Bobby Madden
29 October 2019 Match 11 Greenock Morton 2–3 Ayr United Cappielow, Greenock
19:45
Report
Attendance: 1,431
Referee: Colin Steven
2 November 2019 Match 12 Ayr United 4–1 Partick Thistle Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report
Attendance: 2,558
Referee: Willie Collum
9 November 2019 Match 13 Queen of the South 3–1 Ayr United Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00
Report
Attendance: 1,850
Referee: Don Robertson
3 December 2019 Match 14 Ayr United 0–1 Dunfermline Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45
Report
Attendance: 1,361
Referee: Euan Anderson
7 December 2019 Match 15 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2–0 Ayr United Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00
Report
  • Mark McKenzie  90+2'
 Attendance: 1,833
Referee: Gavin Ross
10 December 2019 Match 16 Ayr United 1–1 Arbroath Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45
Report
Attendance: 777
Referee: Colin Steven
14 December 2019 Match 17 Ayr United 2–1 Alloa Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report
Attendance: 1,117
Referee: David Munro
21 December 2019 Match 18 Dundee United 4–0 Ayr United Tannadice Park, Dundee
15:00
Report
Attendance: 7,744
Referee: Greg Aitken
28 December 2019 Match 19 Ayr United 1–2 Queen of the South Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report
Attendance: 2,062
Referee: David Lowe
4 January 2020 Match 20 Dunfermline Athletic 0–1 Ayr United East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 Report
Attendance: 3,915
Referee: Mike Roncone
25 January 2020 Match 21 Ayr United 1–0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report
Attendance: 1,602
Referee: Greg Aitken
31 January 2020 Match 22 Partick Thistle 1–1 Ayr United Firhill Stadium, Glasgow
19:05
Report
Attendance: 2,416
Referee: Greg Aitken
25 February 2020 Match 23 Ayr United 1–2 Greenock Morton Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45
Report
Attendance: 1,336
Referee: David Lowe
29 February 2020 Match 24 Alloa Athletic 0–2 Ayr United Recreation Park, Alloa
15:00
Report
Attendance: 915
Referee: Greg Aitken
3 March 2020 Match 25 Ayr United 0–0 Dundee United Somerset Park, Ayr
19:45
Report
Attendance: 1,674
Referee: David Munro
7 March 2020 Match 26 Ayr United 0–0 Dundee Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report
Attendance: 1,758
Referee: Steven McLean
10 March 2020 Match 27 Dundee 2–0 Ayr United Dens Park, Dundee
19:45
Report
Attendance: 4,670
Referee: John Beaton
13 March 2020 Match 28 Queen of the South P – P Ayr United Palmerston Park, Dumfries
19:05
17 March 2020 Match 29 Arbroath P – P Ayr United Gayfield Park, Arbroath
19:45
20 March 2020 Match 30 Ayr United P – P Partick Thistle Somerset Park, Ayr
19:05
4 April 2020 Match 31 Ayr United P – P Dunfermline Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
11 April 2020 Match 32 Ayr United P – P Alloa Athletic Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
17 April 2020 Match 33 Greenock Morton P – P Ayr United Cappielow, Greenock
19:45
25 April 2020 Match 34 Ayr United P – P Arbroath Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
2 May 2020 Match 35 Dundee United P – P Ayr United Tannadice Park, Dundee
15:00

Scottish League Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup group stage
13 July 2019 Match 1 Berwick Rangers 0–7 Ayr United Berwick-upon-Tweed
15:00 Report
Stadium: Shielfield Park
Attendance: 603
Referee: Scott Lambie
16 July 2019 Match 2 Livingston 2–1 Ayr United Livingston
19:45
Report
Stadium: Almondvale
Attendance: 1,097
Referee: Willie Collum
20 July 2019 Match 3 Ayr United 2–1 Falkirk Ayr
15:00
Report
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,605
Referee: Barry Cook
22 July 2019 Match 4 Ayr United 2–2
(5–6 p)		 Stranraer Ayr
15:00
Report
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,605
Referee: Barry Cook

Scottish Challenge Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Challenge Cup
7 September 2019 Round 3 Wrexham 1–1
(6–5 p)		 Ayr United Wrexham
19:45
  • Bickerstaff  70'
 Report
Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 1,697
Referee: Steven Gregg

Scottish Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Cup
18 January 2020 Round 4 Ayr United 1–0 Ross County Ayr
15:00
Report
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,538
Referee: Andrew Dallas
8 February 2020 Round 5 Ayr United 1–2 St Johnstone Ayr
15:00
Report
Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 2,625
Referee: Steven McLean

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Promotion, qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 27 14 3 10 39 32 +7 45 1.67
3 Dundee 27 11 8 8 32 31 +1 41 1.52
4 Ayr United 27 12 4 11 38 35 +3 40 1.48
5 Arbroath 26 10 6 10 24 26 −2 36 1.38
6 Dunfermline Athletic 28 10 7 11 41 36 +5 37 1.32
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points per game.
Notes:
  1. All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.[6]

League Cup table
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup § Group G
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LIV AYR FAL STR BER
1 Livingston 4 3 1 0 0 10 3 +7 11 Qualification for the Second Round — 2–1 — — 5–0
2 Ayr United 4 2 0 1 1 12 5 +7 7 — — 2–1 2–2p —
3 Falkirk 4 2 0 1 1 6 3 +3 7 1–1p — — 1–0 —
4 Stranraer 4 1 1 0 2 9 5 +4 5 1–2 — — — 6–0
5 Berwick Rangers 4 0 0 0 4 0 21 −21 0 — 0–7 0–3 — —
Source: [7]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[8]

Transfers

Transfers in
Date Position Name From Fee Ref.
13 June 2019 DF Sam Roscoe Aberdeen Free transfer [9]
24 June 2019 FW Kris Doolan Partick Thistle Free transfer [10]
23 January 2020 DF Jordan Houston Rangers Free transfer [11]

Transfers out
Date Position Name To Fee Ref.
1 July 2019 DF Chris Higgins East Fife Free transfer [12]
MF Robbie Crawford Livingston [13]
DF Liam Smith Dundee United [14]
Michael Rose Coventry City [15]
FW James Hilton Stranraer [16]
MF Stuart Faulds Largs Thistle [17]
Declan McDaid Dundee F.C. [18]
3 July 2019 FW Lawrence Shankland Dundee United [19]
31 August 2019 DF David Ferguson Peterhead [20]
30 January 2020 MF Craig McGuffie Greenock Morton Free transfer [21]

Loans in
Date Position Name From End date Ref.
8 July 2019 MF Frank Ross Aberdeen 1 January 2020 [22]
10 July 2019 Stephen Kelly Rangers 31 May 2020 [23]
12 July 2019 GK Ross Doohan Celtic [24]
30 August 2019 DF Jordan Houston Rangers [25]
17 January 2020 FW Aaron Drinan Ipswich Town [26]
30 January 2020 FW Scott Tiffoney Livingston [27]
31 January 2020 MF Connor Malley Middlesbrough [28]

Loans out
Start date Position Name To End date Ref.
1 July 2019 MF Leon Murphy Stranraer 30 May 2020 [29]
4 August 2019 DF Mikey Hewitt Kilwinning Rangers 31 May 2020 [30]
1 September 2019 Nathan Baird Cumnock Juniors 15 May 2020 [31]

References
  1. "Ladbrokes Championship League Table | SPFL". spfl.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  2. "Coronavirus joint response group update". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. "Key dates for 2019/20". SPFL. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  4. "SPFL: Clubs to vote on lower leagues; Premiership decision on hold". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles & reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. "Summary - League Cup Group G". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  8. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  9. commercial. "Roscoe signs from Aberdeen – Ayr United Football Club". Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  10. "Kris Doolan: Ayr United sign striker following release by Partick Thistle". 24 June 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  11. "Rangers defender Jordan Houston completes Ayr United switch". 23 January 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  12. "Higgins & Murdoch Agree Terms For Next Season". eastfifefc.info. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  13. "Robbie Crawford: Livingston sign midfielder from Ayr United". 15 June 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  14. "Ayr Utd full-back Liam Smith to join Dundee Utd on two-year deal". 16 April 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  15. "Ayr United's Michael Rose sets up Coventry move as 'around 15 clubs' chase Lawrence Shankland". 22 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  16. "Homecoming for Hilton". www.stranraerfc.org. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  17. "Stuart Faulds – Players – Largs Thistle Football Club". www.largsthistle.org.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  18. "Declan is a Dee". Dundee Football Club – Official Website. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  19. "UNITED ANNOUNCE SHANKLAND SIGNING". Dundee United Football Club. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  20. Law, Callum. "Peterhead new boy hoping move is win-win". Evening Express. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  21. "Craig McGuffie signs for Morton – Greenock Morton". Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  22. Durent, Jamie. "Aberdeen midfielder joins Ayr United on loan spell". Press and Journal. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  23. "Ayr United secure loan for Rangers ace Stephen Kelly". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  24. "Ross Doohan: Celtic goalkeeper rejoins Ayr Utd on loan". 13 July 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  25. "Rangers kid Jordan Houston joins Ayr United on loan". 30 August 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  26. "Aaron Drinan Signs". 31 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  27. "Livingston striker Scott Tiffoney: Ayr United old boys sold me on loan move to Somerset Park". 30 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  28. "Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate hails "great move" for Connor Malley as midfielder joins Ayr United". 31 January 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  29. "Leon Murphy | Football Stats | Ayr United | Age 20 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  30. "Michael Hewitt – Ayr United Football Club". Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  31. "Nathan Baird – Ayr United Football Club". Retrieved 13 November 2019.


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