Following on from other recent Academy signings, the club are happy to announce that Mark Shankland has ignored the advances of Liverpool, Rangers & Celtic to secure his future as a professional footballer with Ayr United.

After a season of superstar showings in several of the Academy age groups, the 15 year old's year ended with a couple of senior squad call ups culminating in a 20 minute spell in the league match against Brechin near the end of the SFL season.

The youngster who hails from Mauchline, has signed a 2 year playing contract with Ayr and will also attend the Sports coaching and fitness course that is run in partnership between AUFA and Kilmarnock college from next semester.

Ayr United Chairman Lachlan Cameron turned up to witness the signing and obviously sees this as the way forward for Ayr United saying:"Mark has a bright future ahead of him and to go away to Liverpool or the Old Firm at this stage of his career could have been too much for him to handle. You have to remember he is still only 15 years old and we felt he could progress much more by staying at Ayr;that's why we offered him the contract."

Mark himself openly admits to being a Liverpool supporter and after being down at the Melwood training facility for a weeks trial, it would have been no surprise if the player had opted for signing for his boyhood heroes. After playing a couple of trial matches for Liverpool and scoring twice in a match against Sheffield United, he proved to everyone that he has the ability to score no matter the stress involved or strength of opposition.

Mark said about signing:"I am over the moon at signing for Ayr; The coaches here are brilliant and the backroom staff have advised me about how I can progress here at Ayr whereas I might fall into the cracks at a team the size of Liverpool. They have also helped me gain entry to the Sports and Fitness college course so I can learn academically as well as grow as a professional football player."

There can be no doubt that the youngster has shown promise in the last year which was noticed by all who witnessed him play. This coming year will be the biggest test he has faced yet as he starts his professional playing career, one I am sure he will master with ease.

All he has to do is do what he does best by scoring goals and before long he will chapping the managers door asking for a spot in the big time!