Mark Roberts steps up as Ayr United sack Brian Reid

Ayr United manager Brian Reid paid the price for his side’s relegation to the Second Division by losing his job yesterday.

The Honest Men lost 3-1 to Airdrie United in their play-off semi-final on Saturday and there has now been a parting of the ways with the 41 year old, who was appointed in October 2007, with club captain Mark Roberts making the shock step-up into the manager’s role.

Former Morton, Rangers, Dunfermline, Falkirk, Blackpool, Burnley and Queen of the South defender Reid has left despite leading his side to the Hampden semi-final of this season’s Scottish Communities League Cup against Ayrshire rivals Kilmarnock at the expense of three SPL sides. Ayr also reached the quarter-final stage of the Scottish Cup both this and last season. The club are hoping that their new structure, with Roberts as manager, the club’s head of youth David White becoming his assistant and first-team player John Robertson expected to be involved in a coaching capacity, will lead to an increased use of home-grown talent.

Chairman Lachlan Cameron said: “On behalf of the club, I would like to thank Brian for his service to Ayr United. He led the club during a difficult time and gave us some great results and memories.”

Roberts said: “I am looking forward to the opportunity, as I always relish a challenge. The chance to be manager of Ayr is one that I could not pass up and I cannot wait to get started.”