2025–26 Ayr United F.C. season
| 2025–26 season | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | David Smith |
| Manager | Scott Brown |
| Stadium | Somerset Park |
| Scottish Championship | 4th |
| Scottish Cup | Fourth round |
| Scottish League Cup | Second round |
| Scottish Challenge Cup | Third round |
| Top goalscorer | League: Mark McKenzie (7) All: Mark McKenzie (7) |
The 2025–26 season is Ayr United's eighth consecutive season in the Scottish Championship after being promoted from League One in the 2017–18 season. Ayr are also competing in the Scottish Cup, League Cup, and Challenge Cup.
Results and fixtures
Win Draw Loss Postponed
Pre-season
| 25 June 2025 Friendly | East Stirlingshire | 0–3 | Ayr United | Stenhousemuir |
| 19:45 | Murphy Walker Bryden |
Stadium: Ochilview Park |
| 27 June 2025 Friendly | Ayr United | 1–1 | The New Saints | East Kilbride |
| 19:45 | Walker 49' | Clarke 78' | Stadium: K-Park Training Academy |
| 1 July 2025 Friendly | The Spartans | 3–2 | Ayr United | Edinburgh |
| 19:45 | Craigen 23', 59' Russell 26' |
Report | Murphy 7', 30' | Stadium: Ainslie Park |
| 4 July 2025 Ayrshire Derby | Kilmarnock | 1–0 | Ayr United | Kilmarnock |
| 19:30 | Kiltie 46' | Stadium: Rugby Park Attendance: 5,416 | ||
| Note: Testimonial match for Rory McKenzie. | ||||
Scottish Championship
| 1 August 2025 1 | Arbroath | 1–1 | Ayr United | Arbroath |
| 19:45 | Todorov 89' | Report | Murphy 5' | Stadium: Gayfield Park Attendance: 1,578 Referee: Chris Graham |
| 9 August 2025 2 | Ayr United | 0–1 | Raith Rovers | Ayr |
| 15:00 | Report | Easton 1' | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,570 Referee: Kevin Clancy |
| 23 August 2025 3 | Greenock Morton | 2–2 | Ayr United | Greenock |
| 15:00 | Brophy 23 pen.', 87' | Report | Holt 55' McAllister 59' |
Stadium: Cappielow Attendance: 1,877 Referee: Don Robertson |
| 30 August 2025 4 | Ayr United | 1–1 | Queen's Park | Ayr |
| 15:00 | Shiels 83 o.g.' | Report | Fowler 33 pen.' | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,997 Referee: John Beaton |
| 13 September 2025 5 | Ayr United | 1–1 | Ross County | Ayr |
| 15:00 | Walker 2' | Report | Henderson 49' | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,912 Referee: Matthew MacDermid |
| 23 September 2025 6 | Dunfermline Athletic | 0–1 | Ayr United | Dunfermline |
| 15:00 | Chilokoa-Mullen 47' | Report | McKenzie 9' Watret 90+2' |
Stadium: East End Park Attendance: 4,910 Referee: Dan McFarlane |
| 27 September 2025 7 | Ayr United | 4–2 | Airdrieonians | Ayr |
| 15:00 | Walker 3' McKenzie 6', 22' Murphy 39' |
Report | McGrattan 28' Telfer 59' |
Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,923 Referee: David Dickinson |
| 4 October 2025 8 | St Johnstone | 0–0 | Ayr United | Perth |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: McDiarmid Park Attendance: 4,277 Referee: Ryan Lee |
| 11 October 2025 9 | Raith Rovers | 0–2 | Ayr United | Kirkcaldy |
| 15:00 | Report | McKenzie 12' Murphy 32 pen.' |
Stadium: Stark's Park Attendance: 3,448 Referee: Duncan Nicolson |
| 18 October 2025 10 | Ayr United | 2–1 | Greenock Morton | Ayr |
| 15:00 | Rus 45' Dempsey 87' |
Report | Ballantyne 76' | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,135 Referee: Iain Snedden |
| 21 October 2025 11 | Partick Thistle | 2–1 | Ayr United | Glasgow |
| 19:45 | Lets'osa 46' Stanway 50' |
Report | Walker 45+2' 72' | Stadium: Firhill Stadium Attendance: 3,123 Referee: David Dickinson |
| 25 October 2025 12 | Queen's Park | 0–0 | Ayr United | Glasgow |
| 15:00 | Fieldson 9' | Report | Stadium: Lesser Hampden Attendance: 886 Referee: Peter Stuart |
| 31 October 2025 13 | Ayr United | 0–1 | Dunfermline Athletic | Ayr |
| 19:45 | Report | Stewart 42' | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,015 Referee: Grant Irvine |
| 8 November 2025 14 | Ross County | 3–3 | Ayr United | Dingwall |
| 15:00 | Hale 30' White 32', 51' |
Report | Walker 23' McMann 66' Main 71' |
Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 2,603 Referee: Chris Graham |
| 15 November 2025 15 | Ayr United | 1–1 | Arbroath | Ayr |
| 15:00 | Holt 87' | Report | Marshall 12' | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,019 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 22 November 2025 16 | Airdrieonians | 0–1 | Ayr United | Airdrie |
| 15:00 | Report | McKenzie 19' Rus 59' |
Stadium: Excelsior Stadium Attendance: 1,582 Referee: Sean Murdoch |
| 6 December 2025 17 | Ayr United | 0–0 | Partick Thistle | Ayr |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,815 Referee: Euan Anderson |
| 12 December 2025 18 | Ayr United | 2–4 | St Johnstone | Ayr |
| 19:45 | McKenzie 8' Murphy 14' |
Report | Foulds 47' McPake 77', 88' Fotheringham 90+2' |
Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,946 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 20 December 2025 19 | Dunfermline Athletic | 2–3 | Ayr United | Dunfermline |
| 15:00 | Ngwenya 63', 65' | Report | McKenzie 5' Dowds 26' King 45+4' |
Stadium: East End Park Attendance: 4,961 Referee: Calum Scott |
| 27 December 2025 20 | Greenock Morton | v | Ayr United | Greenock |
| 15:00 | Stadium: Cappielow |
Scottish League Cup
Group stage
| 15 July 2025 1 | Annan Athletic | 1–6 | Ayr United | Annan |
| 19:45 | Smith 70' | Report | Walker 16' Oakley 41', 46', 47' Thomas 60' McRoberts 75' |
Stadium: Galabank Attendance: 527 Referee: Daniel Graves |
| 19 July 2025 2 | Ayr United | 4–0 | Arbroath | Ayr |
| 15:00 | Main 19', 49' Bonnar 74' Oakley 82' |
Report | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,534 Referee: Greg Soutar |
| 22 July 2025 3 | Ayr United | 3–0 | Forfar Athletic | Ayr |
| 19:45 | Thomas 3' Oakley 32' Main 34' |
Report | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,721 Referee: Lloyd Wilson |
| 27 July 2025 4 | St Mirren | 2–1 | Ayr United | Paisley |
| 15:00 | Phillips 16', 38' | Report | Holt 65' | Stadium: St Mirren Park Attendance: 4,174 Referee: Euan Anderson |
Knockout phase
| 16 August 2025 Second round | Partick Thistle | 2–0 | Ayr United | Glasgow |
| 15:00 | O'Reilly 41' Chalmers 45+4' |
Report | Stadium: Firhill Stadium Attendance: 3,124 Referee: Ryan Lee |
Scottish Challenge Cup
| 9 December 2025 Second round | Ayr United | 2–1 | Peterhead | Ayr |
| 19:45 | Dowds 13' McAllister 49' |
Report | Pawlett 27' | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 581 Referee: Peter Stuart |
Scottish Cup
| 29 November 2025 Third round | Ayr United | 3–0 | Turriff United | Ayr |
| 15:00 | Main 27' Watret 29' Thomas 87' |
Report | Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 1,147 Referee: Lloyd Wilson |
| 17 January 2026 Fourth round | Dundee United | v | Ayr United | Dundee |
| 15:00 | Stadium: Tannadice Park |
Squad statistics
Appearances
- As of 20 December 2025[1]
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Championship | League Cup | Challenge Cup | Scottish Cup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK | SCO | David Mitchell | 21 | 0 | 15+1 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | SCO | Nick McAllister | 20 | 1 | 12+2 | 1 | 4+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SCO | Liam Dick | 18 | 0 | 10+2 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | SCO | Shaun Want | 11 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | SCO | Kevin Holt | 18 | 3 | 15+0 | 2 | 3+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | SCO | Stuart Bannigan | 16 | 0 | 7+6 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | SCO | Anton Dowds | 15 | 2 | 2+11 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Ben Dempsey | 14 | 1 | 10+3 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | George Oakley | 13 | 4 | 4+4 | 0 | 3+2 | 4 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Curtis Main | 18 | 5 | 5+7 | 1 | 3+2 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | SCO | Dom Thomas | 14 | 3 | 1+6 | 0 | 4+1 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | SCO | Aaron Brown | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | SCO | Kyle Ure | 15 | 0 | 10+2 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | SCO | Jamie Murphy | 20 | 4 | 15+1 | 4 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | SCO | Jude Bonnar | 18 | 1 | 6+7 | 0 | 2+2 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | SCO | Leon King | 14 | 1 | 12+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Ethan Walker | 22 | 5 | 16+1 | 4 | 4+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | SCO | Mark McKenzie | 26 | 7 | 19+0 | 7 | 5+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | ROU | Marco Rus | 23 | 1 | 15+2 | 1 | 3+2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | NZL | Matthew Warbrick | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | SCO | Dylan Watret | 18 | 1 | 10+5 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 |
| 33 | DF | SCO | Scott McMann | 25 | 1 | 19+0 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | SCO | Jack Simpson | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 38 | GK | SCO | Liam Russell | 6 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| Players who left the club during the 2025–26 season | |||||||||||||
| 16 | FW | SCO | Jake Hastie | 8 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | SCO | Jamie Hislop | 4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 19 | GK | SCO | Ollie Ecrepont | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | SCO | Scott Tomlinson | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | SCO | Kenzie Mitchell | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | SCO | David Craig | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | SCO | Lucas McRoberts | 6 | 1 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
Team statistics
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Partick Thistle | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 28 | 19 | +9 | 36 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final |
| 3 | Arbroath | 19 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 23 | +3 | 32 | Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final |
| 4 | Ayr United | 19 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 25 | 22 | +3 | 27 | |
| 5 | Raith Rovers | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 18 | +2 | 24 | |
| 6 | Dunfermline Athletic | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 26 | 21 | +5 | 23 |
Updated to match(es) played on 20 December 2025. Source: [2]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[3]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[3]
League Cup table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | STM | AYR | ARB | FOR | ANN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mirren | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 10 | Qualification for the second round | — | 2–1 | — | — | 8–2 | |
| 2 | Ayr United | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 | +11 | 9 | — | — | 4–0 | 3–0 | — | ||
| 3 | Arbroath | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 5 | p0–0 | — | — | — | 6–0 | ||
| 4 | Forfar Athletic | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | — | — | ||
| 5 | Annan Athletic | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 21 | −17 | 1 | — | 1–6 | — | 1–1p | — |
Source: [4]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[5]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[5]
Transfers
Transfers in
| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 June 2025 | GK | David Mitchell | Partick Thistle | Free transfer | [6] |
| 16 June 2025 | DF | Liam Dick | Raith Rovers | [7] | |
| Shaun Want | Larne | [8] | |||
| 18 June 2025 | MF | Stuart Bannigan | Partick Thistle | [9] | |
| 24 June 2025 | Dom Thomas | Derry City | [10] | ||
| 17 July 2025 | DF | Kevin Holt | Undisclosed | [11] | |
| 15 August 2025 | FW | Matthew Warbrick | St Cadoc's | Free transfer | [12] |
Transfers out
| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May 2025 | GK | Robbie Mutch | Cove Rangers | Free transfer | [13][14] |
| DF | Frankie Musonda | [13] | |||
| FW | Max Guthrie | Stenhousemuir | [13][15] | ||
| 9 June 2025 | MF | Connor McLennan | Livingston | [13][16] | |
| 17 June 2025 | DF | Patrick Reading | Partick Thistle | [17] | |
| 19 June 2025 | George Stanger | Kilmarnock | [13][18] | ||
| 5 July 2025 | FW | Fraser Bryden | Crusaders | [19] | |
| 1 January 2026 | Jake Hastie | Airdrieonians | [20] |
Loans in
| Date | Position | Name | From | End date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 July 2025 | MF | Jude Bonnar | Celtic | Co-operation loan | [21] |
| 27 July 2025 | Kyle Ure | ||||
| 7 September 2025 | DF | Leon King | Rangers | Loan | [22] |
Loans out
| Date | Position | Name | To | End date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 June 2025 | MF | Jamie Hislop | East Stirlingshire | Co-operation loan | [23] |
| Kenzie Mitchell | |||||
| FW | Lucas McRoberts | ||||
| 16 June 2025 | MF | David Craig | Glenafton Athletic | 31 May 2025 | [24] |
| 26 June 2025 | GK | Ollie Ecrepont | Dumbarton | [25] | |
| 4 July 2025 | MF | Scott Tomlinson | [26] | ||
| 1 October 2025 | FW | Jake Hastie | Airdrieonians | 1 January 2026 | [20] |
References
- ^ "Ayr United FC Player Appearances". soccerbase.com. Soccerbase. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "Championship Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Summary - League Cup". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "David Mitchell joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Liam Dick joins the Honest Men". Ayr United FC. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Shaun Want arrives at Somerset Park". Ayr United FC. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Stuart Bannigan is an Honest Man Again!". Ayr United FC. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Dom Thomas Joins Ayr United". Ayr United FC. 24 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "Kevin Holt Signs". Ayr United FC. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "New Zealand winger lands contract with Scottish Championship club Ayr United". Friends of Football. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Squad Update". Ayr United FC. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "Welcome To Cove – Robbie Mutch". Cove Rangers FC. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "Warriors, there is no better game day feeling than adding players to our ranks". Stenhousemuir. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ "Brandon departs Livingston as McLennan joins". BBC Sport. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
- ^ "Partick Thistle sign Paddy Reading from Ayr United". Partick Thistle FC. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "George Stanger will 'bring presence' to Kilmarnock defence". BBC Sport. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "Fraser Bryden Signs". Crusaders FC. 5 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Hastie Makes Diamonds Return". Airdrieonians FC. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- ^ "Brown expects 'quality' from teenage Celtic duo". BBC Sport. 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Rangers defender King joins Ayr United on loan". BBC Sport. 7 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ "Cooperation Agreement - Ayr United & East Stirlingshire". Ayr United FC. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "David Craig". Ayr United FC. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ "Four Loanees Arrive". Dumbarton FC. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
- ^ "Scott Tomlinson". Ayr United FC. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.