UNITED GET IT WHITE AT LAST

Jul 4 2007 Ayrshire Post

DAVID WHITE has finally made it to Ayr United...13 years after quitting because they couldn’t afford him.

White was one of a host of players through Somerset Park’s revolving doors during the colourful days of Simon Stainrod when new faces jetted in from all corners of the globe.

But after signing a couple of month to month contracts, he was on his way to Cumnock Juniors because they offered him more money.

Now 32, White is back at Ayr as the club’s first full-time football development officer.

And he says he can’t wait to get started in his new role which is funded by a partnership between South Ayrshire Council, the SFA, Ayr United and the Ayr United Football Academy.

David recalls: “Simon Stainrod brought me to Ayr after I was freed by St Mirren but I would be lucky if I lasted only a couple of months.

“Cumnock then stepped in and offered me more money than Simon could so for financial reasons I had to move. I then had ten great years at Cumnock who rewarded me with a testimonial against St Mirren after they signed Brian McGinty from the club.”

White jokes that he seems to have followed the black and white route back to Somerset.

He quipped: “They’re the colours of both Cumnock and Saints while I also worked with Gretna when I was a development officer at Dumfries and Galloway Council.”

David, who also spent six years working with Angus council, has a full remit in his ground breaking job at Ayr.

He said: “I will be working with the community trying to develop the provision of football and lifting the profile of the club.

“My aim to get kids to have an affiliation with the club and try to develop players for the academy. I’ll be visiting schools and local boys and girls clubs, trying to spread the word.

“In terms of the youth academy, my role will be to mentor the coaches and make sure they are delivering.”