Ayr United welcome return of the Ayrshire Cup

Sep 3 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

AYR have won their fight to bring back the Ayrshire Cup.

The old trophy will return next season –-after a gap of 12 years – with Kilmarnock and Girvan joining United in the battle for the silverware.

And there will be derby action before then with Ayr agreeing to provide the opposition for the Garry Hay testimonial.

The match, to honour the long serving Killie midfielder, has been pencilled in for Tuesday, September 28 (kick-off 7.45pm).

Meanwhile, chairman Lachlan Cameron has vowed Ayr’s long running stadium plans are still alive – even although it has cost them close to £300,000 in legal and professional fees.

He revealed: “They are certainly not dead. There are some good signs and some good opportunities.

“We are working away quietly but we need to be careful and have to balance the books.

“In addition to the stadium costs, we have also been spending on the floodlights and health and safety.

“Fans want every penny that comes in to go to the manager but we have to be realistic. We need to start regrouping and putting money into the structure.”

The chairman confirmed that he is working towards turning the club into a community interest company.

He said: “One advantage is that it locks the assets and no one can buy the club on the cheap.”