Scott Brown: New head coach sets sights on play-offs with 'sleeping giant' Ayr United

New head coach Scott Brown says he has taken over a "sleeping giant" with big ambitions as he aims to lead Ayr United to the Scottish Championship play-offs.

Ayr, who have not been in the top flight since 1978, finished second last season but have found themselves at the wrong end of the table this term.

That resulted in Lee Bullen's departure this month, but Brown believes he can now revitalise the Championship club.

"It's all about building on [last season] now," Brown said.

"We're five points off the bottom of the league but also four points away from fourth. There's that opportunity there if you can win three or four games."

Having been sacked by Fleetwood Town, his first managerial job, earlier this season following just 16 months in charge, former Celtic and Scotland skipper Brown says "it is about looking forward" now.

"Everyone wants to look up at this football club. I think it's a sleeping giant, I think we can push on," he said.

"We've got the fanbase and the directors on board as well, we all want to push the club in one direction."

Brown, who will be assisted by ex-Hibernian team-mate Steven Whittaker, watched from the stand on Tuesday as Ayr earned a crucial victory over bottom side Arbroath to move from ninth to seventh.

Brown now faces a challenging first few weeks, with a trip to Queen's Park at the weekend followed by the visit of leaders Dundee United, before travelling to Ibrox to face his old rivals Rangers in the Scottish Cup last 16.

"We need to make sure the lads are positive and believe in themselves because the result [on Tuesday] was fantastic," he added. "The fans were brilliant as well, they cheered for 90 minutes and in those conditions, it was exceptional.

"You've got to have someone to have faith in you and the board have shown that. which has been fantastic for myself and Steven [Whittaker]. It's a huge club and we think they can go up the table."