Lach: Club is going to be in safe hands
Outgoing owner Lachlan Cameron says he knew the time had come to pass the torch – within a week of meeting David Smith.
Lach, who’s spent 16 years at the Somerset Park helm, makes way this week for a new man at the top.
And after years of trying to find the right successor, he pledged: “The fans can be sure the club is in good hands.”
Cameron, who has steered Ayr through some of their trickiest times on and off the field, will write off close to £ 1 million of personal debt as he hands over the club.
And he insisted: “I would only do that for the right person coming in – a person I knew was going to do exactly what they promised for this club.
“I’m convinced David is that man.
“I knew within a week of being introduced to him that he would be our next owner.
“Over the years, I’ve been in detailed discussions to sell the club maybe seven or eight times.
“Half of them I just cut off, others I took more seriously, but never was I at the point of doing any deal.
“With David, it has been clear from the outset of his arrival on the Board that he was someone here for the long term.
“We have been discussing this for a while and he’s a hugely impressive individual.
“As a director, he has carried through on everything he promised to do and is someone who is extremely successful in his business life.
“He also has a real passion for the club so it is the right match on many levels.”
Lach arrived at Ayr in 2005 as managing director and would succeed his dad, Donald, as chairman in 2008.
He was initially tasked with driving the ill- fated Heathfield project to deliver a new stadium.
But he told the Post: “Looking back, our failure to move there is not something I regret.
“When I moved to Ayr, I came to realise the level of feeling within the town for Somerset Park.
“Sure, it requires a lot of money in ongoing care and attention each year, but it is a ground loved not only by our own fans but many around Scottish football.
“In due course, I’m sure that staying here and redeveloping will prove to be the right thing.”
United under Cameron enjoyed notable highlights down the years including play- off glory against Airdrie, Brechin and Stranraer – and the League One title under Ian McCall in 2018.
Lach, 50, recalls: “There were some fantastic moments along the way and I tried to take it all in as much as I could.
“After the Airdrie game I ended up riding the bull in Cactus Jak’s before dancing in Club de Mar – which remains a source of great hilarity to my daughter.”
But with his eventual move back to the States, Lach admits running the club effectively became an impossible task in recent years.
He said: “I’ve always done my best but was very open about the fact I would stand aside for someone else.
“You learn very quickly in this role that you need a thick skin but the one thing that always got to me was turning on my phone and seeing abuse about me not caring.
“I’d read stuff like ‘ Lachlan Cameron is just asset stripping our club’ – well after 16 years I don’t think I’ve done a very good job of that!”
Cameron, who established the club’s widely acclaimed Football Academy back in 2006, added: “I’ll look back on my time with an overall feeling of pride.
“As a club, we are now in a much better financial position than at any other time in the last 25 years.
“We were due up at Elgin this week and it wouldn’t have been long ago that kind of trip would have been a reality two times a season.
“That’s why people can sometimes get carried away with their expectations and demands.
“If I’d listened to supporters down the years I’d probably have gone through 17 managers and that’s why I always tried to give them time.
“Had I listened to the groundswell of opinion at one time, I’d have sacked Ian McCall, but look how that turned out.”
Lach added: “The good thing is I’ll be able to come back now as a fan and will do so as much as I can.
“I’ll miss the things like Lynne in the kitchen and her chicken and haggis pies, which are one of the best creations the world has ever seen.
“But I’m just happy this deal has been done and the fans can be sure the club is in good hands.”