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The 2014/15 season was the 118th season of competitive football in Scotland. The domestic season began on 26 July 2014, with the start of theĀ Challenge Cup. It was also Ayr United’s 100th season of competitive football in club's history.
Ayr United began the season in confident mood with manager Mark Shanks at the helm. A good early start by Ayr in the league was already beginning to fall apart by September and United found their league position move from promotion hopeful to relegation likelies.
A 1-0 for Ayr at Morton on 18th October was sadly Ayr’s last win of the year and their last until they beat relegated Stirling Albion 4-1 away on 14th February. Ayr did beat promotion candidates Forfar Athletic 1-0 at Ayr at the end of February which was their first win at Somerset Park since 23rd August – again against Forfar Athletic.
A change of manager was called for and the board finally did sack Mark Roberts and bringing in Ian McCall.
Results did not immediately improve and it seemed that the rot in the Ayr camp was too deep to be resolved in the current season. With Ayr still in safety ahead of Stenhousemuir in the relegation slot, hope still persisted. A chance to consolidate that position was lost in early March when Ayr could only manage a 0-0 home draw with Stenhousemuir.
Only two draws were obtained in the run into the season end and good results for ‘Muir had placed Ayr in the relegation play-off position though only by a point.
Manager McCall re-emphasised his belief in the players and in the second last match of the season United recorded a glorious 4-0 win at home to Stirling putting them ahead of Stenhousemuir.
But Ayr had to travel to Forfar for the last match of the season needing a win for certain safety and although Athletic were seeking automatic promotion with a home win, Ayr knew that they had beaten Forfar on a few occasions in the season.
Sensationally Ayr produced one of their best performances of the season and recorded a fantastic 3-1 sending Stenhousemuir into the relegation play –offs and leaving Forfar Athletic to play out the promotion play-offs.
League 1 football was guaranteed for another season with new hopes of Championship football.
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