Ayr United have acted quickly to steady the club after a dramatic downturn in results, with a familiar figure linked to Rangers stepping into the spotlight following the exit of Scott Brown from the Somerset Park dugout.
The Honest Men’s season has taken a sharp decline in recent weeks. What once looked like a promising push for the promotion play-offs has rapidly turned into a struggle to keep distance from the relegation zone.
A crushing 3-0 defeat to Raith Rovers last Friday summed up the situation. Ayr are now winless in eight matches, managing just one victory in their last eleven outings.
They currently sit eighth in the ten-team table, seven points clear of Ross County below them and five behind Dunfermline Athletic in the final play-off spot.
With pressure mounting, the club has now made a decisive change. Scott Brown and his assistant Steven Whittaker have both left Ayr United by mutual consent, ending a difficult spell for the former Celtic captain in management.
In the meantime, Jamie Murphy has stepped in to lead training sessions alongside Tommy Tait and Dave Timmins. Murphy, who has previous experience with Rangers and Sheffield United, is a well-respected figure in the dressing room and is expected to help stabilise the squad during this transitional period.
An official club statement confirmed the development:
“Ayr United confirms that Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker have left the club by mutual consent. The club wishes to thank them both for their dedication throughout their time at Ayr United and wish them every success for their future careers.
Training today will be taken by Jamie Murphy, Tommy Tait and Dave Timmins and there will be a further communication regarding an interim position in due course.”
Brown’s departure follows a string of underwhelming performances that fell below expectations. Speaking after the defeat to Raith Rovers, he openly criticised his team’s lack of fight, hunger, and leadership.
He pointed to poor attacking output, defensive weaknesses, and a worrying absence of unity within the squad, admitting the overall performance was far from acceptable.
For Ayr United, the priority now is to halt the slide and regain momentum. With the league table still tight, a quick turnaround is essential to avoid being pulled deeper into danger.
As for Brown, this latest setback raises fresh questions about his managerial future and what his next move in football will be.