STAYING POWER

McCall urges wanted men to help Ayr shock Championship

Ian McCall admits he faces a summer fight to keep hold of his stars.

But the bullish Ayr United boss claims his title winners can take the Championship by storm — if they stay put. Ayr chiefs will sit down this week to talk money with their sought- after squad. But McCall ( left) insists his side, which notched 124 goals in a record- setting season, can make an impact by sticking together. He said: “With the boys we have, the Championship should not scare us. “Of course we have to step up, but we’ve got to be positive about what we have here. “Five or six of our lads can easily play at that level, if not higher. “So it’s imperative we keep our spine together because I firmly believe this team can make an impact.” The 56- goal strike pairing of Lawrence Shankland and Craig Moore are among those with a list of suitors. But McCall stressed: “We’re not just going up with the aim of surviving. “Things are a lot different this time. “You’re not telling me that we can’t compete with the likes of Queen of the South and Morton. “And Livingston have proved exactly what can be achieved in that league.” McCall, who will bring his United squad back for pre- season on June 16, added that his summer signing policy will be quality over quantity. He said: “Getting in lots of loan signings is not a road I want to go down. “I think a club should have its own identity and that means, by and large, signing your own players. “Hopefully we won’t need wholesale changes because, if we keep the vast majority of our squad, I think we’ll be in good shape.”