AMBITIOUS NEW ERA AT UNITED
SOMERSET PARK TAKEOVER WILL BRING EXCITING LONG- TERM PLANS
The new owner of Ayr United is pledging to create a lasting legacy at the club.
Construction boss David Smith ( below) wants to build an “infrastructure for the future” after becoming chairman at Somerset Park this week.
He takes over following the 16year reign of Lachlan Cameron.
Smith, 49, told the Post: “I’m ambitious and want to see this club progress.
“I have a clear strategy and I’m intent on steering us through both the good and bad times.”
A redevelopment of United’s north terracing and potential plastic pitch are among long term plans under
consideration.
New Ayr United owner David Smith has pledged to leave a lasting legacy at Somerset Park.
Construction boss Smith wants to create an “infrastructure for the future” after taking the helm this week.
And he promised to leave no stone unturned as he builds for “long term success” with the Honest Men.
Smith, a fan of the club as man and boy, steps up from the role of vice chairman just a year after joining the Board as a director.
And he admits a number of projects will aim to see Ayr compete both on and off the park under his leadership.
Among Smith’s long term s t rategies is a potent i a l redevelopment of Somerset’s north terracing.
Also under consideration is a switch to a synthetic playing surface.
And the exciting Somerset Hub ( pictured below), which Smith predicts will change the matchday experience for fans, is set to be first off the production line of plans.
The 49- year- old told the Post: “I’m an infrastructure guy y and that’s what I want to put in place here.
“I have a short, medium and longterm strategy of where I want this club to go and how we need to achieve that, particularly off the park.
“It’s a huge privilege to be in this position – when I was younger I dreamed of playing for us like every fan does.
“I came to my first game at the age of five so to be sitting here now as owner is a bit surreal.”
As boss of Prestwick- based Ashleigh Building, Smith has forged a successful and highly respected career in the business world.
And he’s ready to put similar foundations in place at Somerset to ensure a prosperous future.
The dad- of- three said: “I’m excited by what we can do going forward and I’m ambitious for longterm success.
“But when you go around the country to other grounds and see what’s on offer elsewhere, there’s a clear difference.
“As a club we’ve been left behind more by circumstance than anything else.
“We don’t have the income streams that others have and that’s something we need to address.
“However, this season we have already seen a boost in our commercial activity which is up around 35 per cent on last year and our shop is performing really well.
“These are real positives that we need to keep building on.”
Smith, who has already made a substantial investment on revamping the club’s bo boardroom and on leading the Hu Hub project, insists he’s ready to keep going with the right ty type of cash injection.
“I’m someone who is more th than happy to put in the money to benefit the infrastructure of the clu club moving forward,” he said. “I won’t throw hundreds of thousands of pounds at a playing squad – but all the same I will support the manager.
“And I’d like to think people would look at our squad this year and acknowledge the level of signing we have made so far.”
Smith says boss Mark Kerr is impressing with his work rate during his first full season in charge and the new chairman is confident for the long haul.
He said: “Nobody is more frustrated with the recent results than Mark but both he and Mick ( McArdle) are working incredibly hard on that.
“Like anyone in a new job for the first time, Mark will make mistakes but he will learn from those and get better for them.
“I was just a fan at the time of his appointment but I was fully supportive of it.
“He’s a hungry young coach making his way in the game during a tremendously difficult season and he will get all the backing he needs to succeed.”
Smith, who has bought land behind Somerset’s north terracing, will study a potential rebuild of that side of the ground with new hospitality facilities among the thoughts moving forward.
He said: “It’s something that falls under the middle to longer term strategy but the land has been bought for that purpose and gives us options.
“Again, it’s an example of creating an infrastructure at the club.
“In terms of the pitch, my heart will always say grass but the head tends to say plastic these days.
“We will weigh it up and if there’s a business case for it, we’ll certainly look to do so.
“But it’s not something you’ll be seeing next season.”
Smith’s confirmation as chairman comes after the 16- year leadership of Lachlan Cameron, who steps down with long serving managing director, Lewis Grant.
And Smith said: “Without the efforts of the Cameron family and Lewis Grant, there might not be a club here right now.
“They’ve committed a huge part of their lives to this club to ensure its future.
“I’m lucky to have a current Board that boasts 25 years of experience but there are certain gaps in expertise we need filled.”
And he added: “Some might think it’s not the ideal time to buy a football club but is there ever an ideal time?
“I am intent on steering us through both the good and the bad times and I’ll not shy away from anything.”
I’m excited by what we can do going forward and I’m ambitious for long term success