Scott Brown exits Ayr United manager role as Celtic and Scotland hero makes way after alarming form slump

Scott Brown has left his role as Ayr United head coach by mutual consent, the Scottish Championship side have confirmed.

The Somerset Park side sit eighth in the second tier and seven points clear of Ross County below them in the relegation play-off spot. While five off Dunfermline Athletic in the final Premiership promotion play-off spot, Friday’s 3-0 loss to Raith Rovers left them winless in eight games amid a poor run of form.

Brown, who had a trophy-laden career as captain with Celtic as a player, started his coaching career at Aberdeen before becoming Fleetwood Town manager in England during 2022. He left a year later and was named Ayr boss during 2024, guiding them to the promotion play-offs last season, where they lost at the quarter-final stage to Partick Thistle.

Why did Scott Brown leave Ayr United?

Ambitions of reaching the top flight were harboured this season, but Brown now departs after alarming results alongside assistant Steven Whittaker, a hero at Rangers and formerly of the Scotland national team, ahead of this weekend’s match against Thistle. A further interim announcement is expected but Ayr attacker and ex-Rangers forward Jamie Murphy will take training in the meantime as Somerset Park chiefs look to sort who will lead them forward.

A statement from the club read: “Ayr United confirms that Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker have left the club by mutual consent. The club wishes to thank them both for their dedication throughout their time at Ayr United and wish them every success for their future careers. Training today will be taken by Jamie Murphy, Tommy Tait and Dave Timmins and there will be a further communication regarding an interim position in due course.”

Brown said after the defeat to Raith last week: “It was the poorest fight I've seen from us in a long time - you have to come here and show basic hunger and desire, but we didn't.

What did Scott Brown say after latest Ayr defeat?

"In the first half none of our forward players won a header or had a shot on target. We changed shape a bit in the second half but still didn't create any clearcut chances. The goals we lost were so poor. Yes we have loads of injuries and come here without a recognised striker but that's no excuse for the lack of fight and desire on show.

"There wasn't a togetherness to go and defend things. We need to have a fight because this isn't good enough. It was plain sailing last season when they enjoyed themselves playing football and passing the ball with the physicality up top. When you don't have that you need leaders to step up. There was an acceptance in that performance and it's nowhere near good enough. We had the leaders last season.

"When you're in this situation, you find out who wants to be here and who has the desire to fight. There are a lot of people out of contract at the end of the season and whether they're getting a contract here or not, people will look at that performance and think they don't want to fight. I'm gutted - it's not a performance anywhere near the level required."

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