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The 2007/08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland and Ayr Unite’s 93rd competitive season and the 97th season in the clubs history and saw them compete in Division once again.
Another season and another slice of optimism which was dented by a 7-1 friendly defeat by Queen of the South.
After a poor start, a 2-1 win away to Hamilton in the Challenge Cup renewed Ayr’s fortunes and successive league wins against Berwick Rangers, Alloa Athletic and Forfar Athletic without so much as a lost goal, coupled with two good draws against Brechin City and away to Cowdenbeath saw a run of six wins from nine league and cup matches.
If a Challenge Cup win began United’s good run it was a Challenge Cup defeat that ended it. The semi-final defeat nevertheless wasn’t unexpected as it came against first division Dunfermline Athletic and then by the narrowest of margins. A draw against Airdrie and then a 4-1 home defeat by Raith Rovers saw manager Neil Watt leaving the club citing a difference of ambition between himself and the Board, a worrying view from a fans perspective.
The board moved quickly to outline ambitious plans for a new stadium.
Brian Reid took the helm and wasn’t able to steady it with Ayr managing only one win in seven matches culminating in a 4-1 slaughtering at home to the Blue Brazil – Cowdenbeath. Another defeat the following week by 3-0 away to Peterhead left Ayr 3rd bottom of the league going into the Christmas programme - not where they expected to be!
Manager Brian Reid launched an attack on the players at Somerset Park warning them that if he was prepared to release players who did not want to put in winning performances and that there would be a clear out in the new transfer window.
A 3-1 win against Queen’s Park and the news late in January that plans for a new stadium had been approved by the Local Council brought new optimism for the new year. However, a player sent off, two late controversial penalities and three goals for Peterhead on 9th February again stalled the push for the play off’s.
Ayr United continued to make stuttering progress out of the relegation zone and tantalizingly close to the promotion play off’s but defeats to Raith Rovers and Peterhead early in April ended that dream.
Nevertheless relegation was also avoided by nine points making a mid-table finish. A home defeat by Airdrie United was followed by an end of season victory by 3-1 over Queen’s Park giving Ayr that 7th place finish.
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