UNITED TO THE CORE

Moff thanks club for maintaining wages

Michael Moffat insists Ayr United’s handling of the coronavirus crisis has been a godsend to players.

Moff, 35, is among the out- of- contract stars who will continue to receive a wage in June. United’s decision to extend furlough for players not signed to new deals won widespread praise last week.

And Moffat ( left) admits it’s been a vital gesture for many in the dressing room. He said: “I can’t speak highly enough of the way the club has handled everything. They’ve been brilliant with us as players from the start.

“You only have to look at what some other clubs have done in terms of releasing players to see how it could have gone.

“As far as I’m concerned the club have gone above and beyond to see the boys are alright – and that means a lot to everyone.”

Moffat is among those hoping to extend his stay at the club whenever football resumes at Somerset.

But he admits the short- term stability is no less welcome.

He said: “We’ve got two kids at home, so there are mouths to feed and bills to pay.

“Football is a great job but this is the side of it that people maybe don’t appreciate as much. Right now the worry at our level of the game is massive.

“We’re not on millions of pounds like the boys in the English Premiership.

“Thankfully the club has been great in supporting us all the way and the communication has been first class so everyone knows where they stand.”

Daniel Harvie and Stephen Kelly claimed the honours as Ayr dished out their Player of the Year prizes.

A fan vote saw two of the team’s brightest young stars rewarded for stellar seasons.

Harvie, 21, was overwhelming winner of the Player of the Year award.

And Kelly, who spent the campaign on loan from Rangers, was an equally well deserved winner of the Young Player prize.