AYR UNITED have announced that manager Ian McCall has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2018.

The former Partick Thistle boss was crowned League One manager of the year last season after guiding The Honest Men into the Championship.

In his first season in charge at Somerset Park, McCall led his side into the Scottish second tier thanks to a penalty shootout victory over Stranraer in the playoff final.

"I am thrilled to sign a new deal as I have no desire to go anywhere else," he said.Glasgow Times: Prize guy: Ayr United's Ian McCall with his Ladbrokes League One Manager of the Year Award (Picture: SNS)

"I have loved my time at the club and get on with everyone here and it is time for us to kick on now. The Sunday of the playoff final was one of my greatest days in football, to see the celebrations of the players, staff and all our fans was something I will always remember.

"We know this will be a tough season however I have great confidence in the team we have here and with the backing of our fans it is something we are really looking forward to.”

Chairman Lachlan Cameron was delighted to see his manager commit until the end of the 2017/18 season: "I am pleased that the Manager and the Club have come to an agreement to extend his stay here at Ayr United through the 2017/18 season.

"It didn’t take much to get it done to be honest.  Ian is very committed here to the club and we are to him. I personally feel that stability is key to maintaining the best opportunity for success and the fact that we have nailed down another two years where the players, staff and supporters know who is in charge can make all the difference.

“Ian is an incredibly experienced and talented manager and we leave him to get on with the day to operations on the football side and try to provide as much support as we can without interfering. 

That strategy has worked so far and we intend to continue with it.  Ian knows that if he needs anything, he can come to any of us on the Football Committee and we will do our best to accommodate his needs.”