TOP BILLING
McCall hopes last 16 place will give him buying power
Ian McCall has urged Ayr to make it a season to remember as they stand on the brink of a Betfred Cup payday.
Tuesday night’s 5- 1 rout of Clyde — their third win from three — all but sealed a place in Sunday’s last- 16 draw.
And if they avoid defeat at Annan on Saturday, they are set to top the section and earn a seeding in the next stage which is worth a minimum of £ 35,000.
There is a huge £ 60,000 incentive for making the last eight, with a further £ 12,500 for live TV.
A money- spinning run could allow McCall to further strengthen, with man of many clubs Darryl Duffy a target.
The 33- year- old striker, who has played in Scotland, England and India, is currently training with Ayr.
McCall said: “He is somebody I really like and fits in with what I am trying to do here.
“He is a terrific boy and I will have a conversation with the board and chairman.
“If we manage to reach the last 16, we will see if that helps.”
McCall is backing his Ayr force to keep up their blistering start which has soared them to the top of their section.
He claimed: “I think we’ll score one or two goals this season.
“We’ll go to Annan full of confidence to see our old friend Peter Murphy.
“I’ll make one or two changes and that’s not getting blasé but I don’t play Jamie Adams on astro pitches.
“There might be one or two other changes while we are hoping Alan Forrest will be fit.
“We have a lot of talented players — there is no doubt about that. We should never have been relegated, that’s my fault.
“I think a few of our players are, potentially, better than Championship level.
“But they’ve got to prove that over the season and give our fans, and particularly the chairman, a season to remember.
“We’ve got to keep it going every time we play.”
Murphy, who spent three seasons at Ayr, took over as Annan boss in the summer, while former Somerset favourite Ryan Stevenson has joined the League Two side after doing a U- turn on a move to Australia.
Saturday will be Ayr’s first ever visit to Galabank on competitive duty although they have played in pre- season games.
Ayr are 7/ 10 to win, the draw is 3/ 1 while Annan are 9/ 2 with McBookie. com