LEFT IN LIMBO
United chief admits quandary over player contracts and season tickets
Ayr chairman Lachlan Cameron admits to being in no man’s land as he tries to make his biggest calls on the future of the club.
The United owner concedes it could be a long time before fans are allowed back inside Somerset Park.
It follows a warning from the SFA’s top medic that football faces “quite a task” to return to normal.
Clubs down south have been told not to expect fans back until 2021.
And the English Premier League is already preparing to play the entirety of next season behind closed doors.
Those armageddon scenarios have struck fear at the heart of the Scots game.
And Lach admits there will be clubs going to the wall.
He said: “We’re taking advice all the time but the situation is getting more serious regarding the long- term outlook.
“If we’re talking about fans not being in grounds until next year, then that’s a huge concern for everyone. Certain clubs won’t survive.
“My personal worry is where this all ends – at some point people will have to be allowed back out or the entire world will collapse.”
United have so far delayed a decision on whether to put season tickets on sale.
Lach ( right) explained: “We’re looking at it all the time but it’s hard to make any firm decisions when the picture is changing each week.
“The concern with season tickets is being in a position where you could owe a lot of people refunds and, evidently, that’s not ideal.”
Come the end of this month, the majority of Ayr’s squad will be out of contract.
They currently remain furloughed, along with boss Mark Kerr.
Lachlan added: “We’re getting the relevant advice on how we might be able to keep current players and extend their contracts under the job retention scheme.
“But again, these are things we’re having to look into at the moment. Like everyone else, we’ll not be in a position to go out and sign new players.
“The priority is just getting football
back.”
It was the chip that people heard about around the world.
Now Ayr United fans have the chance to own a piece of Somerset Park history.
Andy Walker’s size eights dinked Gordon Marshall to seal a 3- 0 win over Killie in January, 1999.
His moment of penalty spot magic instantly went down in folklore.
And Ayr diehard Dave Smith, who subsequently bought the boots at auction, is now putting them up for grabs to raise funds for the club.
The president of the Aberdeen Ayr United Supporters Club is staging a raffle with tickets being sold for just £ 5. All proceeds raised will go to the AU500 Fund.
It comes just a week after fellow fan Colin Sturgeon raised £ 850 by raffling a signed shirt.
Dave, 48, said: “I own so much Ayr memorabilia but a lot of it just sits in my loft.
“This is a great chance to raise some much needed money for the club.
“We’re hoping to get Andy to sign the boots as well, which would be even better.”
To enter, contact Dave on his Twitter page @ WJShorts