Ayr United captain Ross Docherty hails "statement of intent" as club goes full-time
The Honest Men are looking to bounce back following relegation last season
Last updated 1st Aug 2017
Ayr United’s skipper reckons the club’s decision to go full-time is a “statement of intent” as they bid to get back to the Championship.
The Honest Men have taken the surprising step, despite dropping down to League One where the majority of clubs are part-time.
Speaking ahead of the league opener at Albion Rovers on Saturday, United captain Ross Docherty said: “I can see why the decision, off the back of getting relegated last year, maybe seems like quite a strange one.
But having done it, we’ve looked good in pre-season, and obviously in the Betfred Cup as well.”
Their Group stage campaign started with a confidence-boosting win at close rivals Kilmarnock, and finished with a resounding 6-1 victory against Annan Athletic at the weekend. Midfielder Docherty says the derby success was a big indication of what the squad is capable of.
“Everyone was down after getting relegated. So to go and play your biggest rivals who are two divisions above and beat them, and most people who saw the game said we deserved to win, it’s a massive lift.
It shows that, being full-time now, we can go and challenge teams like that."