I think im going to back one team from each league that i think will win the league. Ayr seem to be the team im drawn to in the 2nd. What are the Ayr fans' views about them winning the league? D you think you have a chance? Will you be there or there abouts? Or is it too soon?

Top 2

Ayr will win the league, Raith, Stirling and East Fife in the promotion P-O, Queens bottom and Stranraer in the relegation P-O

You heard it here first!

We have pretty much our full team in place. Looking at probably a right back and maybe one or two squad players to come in, but the majority of the squad is assembled and starting training today.


Will we win?

Who knows. IMO we have the strongest squad, but in this division that doesn't always go for much. I have sadly found that out over the years.

My opinion is yes we can win the league, whether we will or not is another matter. If I was a gambling man, which I am, I think an each way bet would be the order of the day. If your going for a permed bet then I would recommend them as a good investment along with other teams...but don't come looking for me if it all goes belly up

I thunk we need a right back and possibly 1 or 2 other strikers.Depends whether McLaren signs his deal.

We started our training on Saturday as Stevo was saying he was shattered after a double morning and afternoon session on Saturday and another yesterday and today.

I fell that if we win all our matches we will win the league.

I think its definitly between Ayr and Raith. I've put a bet on with Ayr already as the odds are brilliant

I will take Arbroath as their odds are brilliant

Will Ayr win the.......



Will we win the......




Will we...will......oh f**k it, I have to stop, my sides are splitting.

You're too young to gamble.

The league is wide open in my eyes, there are question marks over every team. For instance, our ability to score goals as we have only two forwards signed with Andy McLaren, as far as I am aware, yet to commit and coming back from a serious knee injury.

Then you have East Fife, as a collective they are completely unproven at this level. I think they have made some astute signings but I have reservations over the spine of the side, particularly in central midfield and central defence.

Raith Rovers would have you believe they are 'too big for this league' but I would question their strikeforce (Hislop excepted) and certainly the back four.

Brechin might do quite well this season, they are always there or thereabouts!

brian reid =god is the man to ask

I think Ayr have signed a couple of good players (Aitken & Grindley) to mix with their players from last season.

They are IMHO weak in both fullback positions, and have no width (unless McLaren signs), but have 2 of the most talented players in the league (Williams & Stevenson).

I don't know if they will win the league, but the last season at Somerset should give them a boost, in 2012.

Just had some 7-1 action on BETFAIR.

Dunno about no width, is that not what Agnew and Borris were all about? I hope McLaren does sign again though, what he brings to the dressing room may be worth it if nothing else.

A right back is a must though I agree and possibly a utility defender, after all, Martyn Campbell is still a banker to be injured for most of the season ahead

As to whether or not we'll win the league, I'm not going to say yeh or nay, therefore an each way bet is the order of the day for me too.

3rd of August it the time ot put your money on Ayr, you will get better than 7/1 then

Can you please explain why you think we have no width please?

You have no wingers of any noted ability except McLaren and he is good, but even he can't be on 2 wings at once, and your full backs lack the ability to overlap.*

This is from what I saw of Ayr last season and what I know of your signings.


* Sorry too much Euro 2008, must realise we are talking about scottish 2nd division players here.

Good post.

Most teams have almost finalised their squads by the looks of things, with maybe only one or two signings yet to be made. I think Ayr look good so far. They've manged to keep their best players by the looks of things and have made a few good sigings so I've no doubt they'll be top 4. Raith have made quite a lot of changes but I can't imagine them not being in the mix. Brechin, Peterhead and Alloa don't seem to be too much stronger or weaker than last year and should all be capable of making a challenge.

I'm happy with our squad. We should be capable of getting a play-off place at least and I don't think any team looks significantly better than us at the moment so we should have a chance of challenging.

That leaves Queens Park, Stranraer and Arbroath, who I just don't see having the quality to bother the top 4 but you never know.

Should be a good league, it's pretty difficult to predict.

Edit - Oops, forgot Stirling. I don't know how they'll do. I wouldn't be too surprised if they were near the top or the bottom really.

Dempsie is no Sergio Ramos but as neither of us have ever seen him play I think it is unfair to say he is unable to overlap. We could do with signing a right back though, I will give you that.

Agnew and Borris should do a job, although there is no guarantee Boris will even be in the side.

Stirling will win the league

Allan Dempsie is very highly rated and was in the Third Division team of the year ahead of Dougie Cameron, a player I rate highly. He's miles better than Laurie Ellis I'll bet.

We don't yet have a right-back, but if we get Andy Lawrie, and he's fit, I reckon we'll have about the best full-back pairing in the division.

Ayr's signings include Aitken (from Stirling), Keenan (from Morton), Prunty (from Airdrie), Agnew (from Alloa) and Grindlay (from QoS) - these players seem capable of playing at a higher level in my opinion. But a lot will depend on Stevenson and Williams maintaining the same strike rate as last season as well as Brian Reid being able to blend the new with the old (i.e. getting the right mix on the park). Some question marks remain over the other signings (Borris, Dempsie and Walker) but, on paper at least, the squad is a good deal stronger than at this stage last season. Whether or not that's good enough to make us contenders is difficult to say and dangerous to predict (This is Ayr United and the role of serial under-achievers is one we've been habit forming for many years ). Youngsters like Woodburn and Kinnaird may represent the surprise element - one of them could become a regular in the team.

The manager himself is a factor in all this - he's always said he should be judged on what he does over a whole season rather last season's rescue job, good though that was after the Neil Watt debacle at the start). And apart from anything else, he hasn't finished building his squad yet.

I don't see an obvious 'Ross County' among this group of teams (i.e. an obvious contender) so it might be a season of surprise results on a regular basis. Should keep the bookies happy that.

Edited to add Chris Aitken's name ....oops!

I'll agree with all of that and just to add, what I am looking forward to this year is five or six evenly matched teams. Should be one of the most exciting leagues this season. Can't wait for it to kick off.

I've said it on another thread that I think Keenan will be one of our key players. Our stats from last year led to one thing. Our defence was rank, and Keenan will protect them. We scored enough goals to be further up the league, but some comic cuts defending let us down badly. If he controls the midfield, like he did for most of the games when he was with us last season then we certainly won't be far away. As long as he stops scoring goals for the opposition that is!!!

16 days to Belfast and counting to my first taste of action...Cannae wait

I used to be optimistic too. Ayr soon drains that out of you though. Looking forward to Belfast, and then the East Stirling game, but after that....same shite, different season.

I hear Kevin Barkey is available....if the old link up with B Prunty could be found again you'll walk the league.

I've said for the last two seasons that we'll go up and haven't so I'm keeping my mouth shut.

Thats my thinking, in reverse.