Ayr Utd have announced Gary Naysmith as their new manager. He will join the club after completing the Scottish Championship play-off campaign with Stenhousemuir.

What happened?

Gary Naysmith has agreed a 3-year contract to join Ayr Utd's full-time set-up in the Championship next season. He will be joined by Stenhousemuir assistant Brown Ferguson. Ayr chairman David Smith said: "Their ability to outperform budget is clear not only from their time at Stenhousemuir but also in their previous roles at a variety of clubs in Scotland."

Why it matters for Ayr Utd

Ayr Utd were seeking a new manager after former Scotland midfielder Scott Brown exited in March. The team finished 7th in the Championship, 39 points from 36 games, with a recent form of LLLWL. Their last result was a 0-1 loss to ST Johnstone on 2026-05-01. | Category | Stat | | --- | --- | | League standing | 7th | | Points | 39 | | Recent form | LLLWL |

What comes next?

Gary Naysmith began his managerial career with East Fife before spells with Queen of the South and Edinburgh City. He took over at Stenhousemuir in 2023 and led them to their first-ever league title to win promotion to League 1. Should Stenhousemuir beat Queen of the South on Saturday, they will face either Airdrieonians or Alloa Athletic in the play-off final. Ayr Utd will be hoping for a change in fortune with their new manager, as they look to improve their position in the Championship.