WINNING LOOK
Ayr want big players to fill their new jerseys
Ayr United this week unveiled next season’s strips and want some big characters to fill them.
Busy boss Ian McCall is scouring the country for talent and will meet a player in Abbington this week for talks.
Alan Trouten and Ryan Nisbet are the latest on the way out of Somerset but McCall wants to keep veteran defender Peter Murphy who he describes as Ayr’s best player in the last 10 games of the season.
Keeper Greg Fleming is chewing over a two year extension while one year deals have been offered to Nicky Devlin, Ross Docherty, Paddy Boyle and Jamie Adams.
Brian Gilmour has signed for another two years while teenagers Mick Wardrope and Craig McGuffie have inked 12 month contracts.
McCall said: “I am waiting to hear back from a lot of our out of contract players while I have spoken to five or six others.
“There is an opportunity to be competitive in a very good Championship but we have to break even next season.
“The chairman can’t keep digging us out. It’s unfair and I don’t want that.”
McCall admits to interest in Conrad Balatoni, who is on Kilmarnock’s unwanted list, but who played under him at Partick Thistle.
Balatoni, 25, is still under contract at Rugby Park but is one of six players who Killie will let move on.
McCall wants to keep Ryan Stevenson but his fitness will be crucial while he hopes to come to an agreement to release Trouten who still has a year to run of his deal.
McCall said: “Alan is a good player and won’t be short of offers but both of us feel that it would be best if he moved on.”
Nisbet, who spent most of last season on loan at Hurlford but still has a year to run, is free to leave.
Ayr report back for pre- season training on Thursday, June 16 and will defend the Gretna tournament on July 9 and 10.
They will play only two more friendlies before the Betfred Cup ( revamped League Cup) kicks off with regionalised sectional games on July 16.
Teams will be split into eight groups of five and there are hopes that Killie, who saved their Premiership skins at the death, could be in Ayr’s section.
Season tickets are now on sale at the club shop who will have the new Bodog backed shirts - their sixth year of sponsorship - available from June 17 with pre- orders now being taken.
The Championship will kick off on Saturday, August 6 with fixtures released on June 17.