Ex-Celtic captain Scott Brown sacked by Ayr United

The 40-year-old joined the Scottish Championship side in January 2024, after previously managing EFL club Fleetwood Town.

Ayr United confirms that Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker have left the club by mutual consent.

The club wishes to thank them both for their dedication throughout their time at Ayr United and wish them every success for their future careers.

Training today will be taken by… pic.twitter.com/XFnjgoA5Lf

— Ayr United (@AyrUnitedFC) March 30, 2026

After leading Ayr to a third-place finish last season, the club currently finds themselves in eighth, seven points ahead of Ross County in the relegation play-off position.

Despite only being five points behind Dunfermline in fourth, last Friday's 3-0 defeat to Raith Rovers has proved to be the final straw for the club's hierarchy, who have decided to dismiss Brown and assistant Steven Whittaker.

In full, the club said in a statement, "Ayr United confirms that Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker have left the club by mutual consent.

"The club wishes to thank them both for their dedication throughout their time at Ayr United and wish them every success for their future careers.

"Training today will be taken by Jamie Murphy, Tommy Tait, and Dave Timmins, and there will be further communication regarding an interim position in due course."

During his time at Celtic, Brown won 22 major honours, including 10 league titles, six League Cups and six Scottish Cups.

He left Glasgow in 2021 to join Stephen Glass as a player-coach at Aberdeen, before being appointed as Fleetwood's manager the following year.