Tam McManus: Redemption at Ayr has been fairytale of the season

They are one of my many former clubs and are steeped in plenty of history, going back to the days of the great Ally MacLeod who in the late 60s and 70s had Ayr established as a solid top-flight side. Crowds of 20,000 would regularly pack into Somerset Park to watch them pit their wits against the best sides in Scotland.

Literally not much has changed at Somerset Park since those halcyon days – until now that is. A thumping 5-0 win at Tannadice against a rejuvenated Dundee United to send them five points clear at the top of the Championship delivered a clear message.

This Ayr United side mean business and are not going to fade away. Lawrence Shankland has been one of the stars of the season in Scotland who in notching four goals on the night took his tally to an incredible 26 goals in 23 games. But the main catalyst in Ayr’s rise has undoubtedly been the ebullient Ian McCall.

When Ian left Partick Thistle in 2011 a lot

of people were surprised. He had been doing a fine job with Thistle on the park and had knitted together a very decent side at Firhill that eventually went on to get promotion. Many thought he must have had another job lined up. Myself included.

But off the park issues were causing major heartache for Ian. Ian had to walk away from football to sort out a gambling problem not only for the sake of his career as a manager but for his entire wellbeing. For three and a half years he disappeared off the football radar bar the odd media gig. It seemed as if a really talented manager had been lost to the game. But not so.

In 2015, having received a call from Ayr United owner Lachlan Cameron and a recommendation from Neil Lennon, McCall was back in football at Ayr.

I know that the bond between Ian and Lachlan is massive as he has helped him hugely in terms of fighting his addiction and in backing his future plans for the club. That bond probably stopped Falkirk from luring Ian away not so long ago. Make no mistake about it this Ayr United has been for the last 18 months one of the best sides to watch in Scottish Football.

They plundered 92 goals in League 1 last season making them the highest goalscorers in the entire SPFL as the title was won in style. They have banged in another 30 so far in just 15 league games. Ian has placed an arm around Shankland who looked like he wasn’t going to fulfill his potential and would drift away down the divisions.

In turn, McCall has helped to turn him into the most-lethal striker in Scotland. He performed the same feat with Stephen Dobbie at Queen of the South. You see that is McCall’s greatest strength for me.

He has worked wonders by getting guys like Shankland and Dobbie, players who have lost their way a little, back on the road to redemption. It’s almost as if he sees a bit of himself in guys like that.

He hasn’t spent a penny at Ayr United

but has assembled a side full of hunger and desire, one that is determined to prove people wrong. Young players released from bigger clubs with a point to prove and experienced players told they couldn’t hack it at Championship level. That can be a potent

mix and so far they are punching well above their weight.

Ian McCall will continue to fight his personal demons every single day. Gambling is not a disease that just goes drifts away. He will need to keep on top of it for the rest of his life. What he has achieved so far at Ayr United has been nothing short of remarkable.

If McCall can clinch back-to-back promotions and Ayr United return to Scottish football’s top league for the first time since 1978 it would crown a glorious comeback on and off the park for Ian McCall. But every day he gets through without gambling means he is a winner anyway.

Football pales into insignificance and maybe that will take the pressure off him and in turn Ayr United when the pressure cranks up.

With his mind now clear Ian McCall, like the players he has helped, can now go and fulfill his own potential as a manager.