One year on: Ayr United managing director Graeme Mathie on the Somerset Park journey

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Twelve months ago to the day, Graeme Mathie arrived at Ayr United pledging to put the club back on Scottish football's map.Staring at a Championship relegation fight and with fans calling for instant changes in the dugout, his was an in-tray not without its problems.But now, one year on, those who dared to laugh at Mathie's level of ambition look like they may have rushed to judge.Within days of bouncing through the Somerset Park entrance, the former Hibs sporting director had been forced to make the call and part ways with first team boss Jim Duffy.Mathie, for his part, insists that was never the original plan and backing Duffy to dig Ayr out of a January hole was his first task at hand.But a bleak 3-0 loss at Queen of the South on the eve of last Christmas left Mathie and his new board colleagues with nowhere to go on a weekend which now seems like a lifetime ago.For it set in motion a whirlwind year that has seen United, driven by Mathie's endless enthusiasm, transformed from top to bottom.On the park, new head coach Lee Bullen has overseen a meticulous rebuild that has taken Ayr all the way to the league's summit and has fans dreaming of a top flight return for the first time in 45 years.Mathie, who tongue in cheek spoke of his pre-season vision to deliver an open top bus parade on the Low Green, has suddenly realised he may need to thumb his contacts book for a coach firm.But for all United's progress may be slightly ahead of timetable, he insists the club is ready and willing to take whatever step is required on its journey.Mathie told the Ayrshire Post: "When I came in 12 months ago and talked about ambition, it wasn't a soundbyte.