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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Stuart Wilson

Craig Potter lifts lid on move to lead Ayr United Women in new-look SWF Championship

The new head coach of Ayr United's women admits he didn't have to think twice about making his Somerset Park return.

Craig Potter was a YTS full back under the watchful eye of Campbell Money when he came though the United ranks 20 years ago.

Since hanging up his boots, Potter has taken high coaching rank as number two to former Ayr defender Craig McEwan at the likes of Arthurlie and Glenafton.

Now he's relishing his first step into management with United's ladies team in the new-look SWF Championship, which kicks off this weekend.

Potter told the Ayrshire Post: "It's great to be back where it all began.

"I played in the same Ayr youth team as the likes of Scott Chaplain, Stewart Kean and Willie Lyle and they were good days.

"For me, this is a move which takes me out of my comfort zone and it's something that excites me.

"I'm an ambitious guy and have come here because of the way the club on the whole is progressing.

"The women's game is taking a lot of headlines just now and the setup we have here at Ayr United is perfectly placed to capitalise on that.

"From the first conversation I had with the folks here, I was struck by the professionalism and approach to putting their ladies' setup at the forefront of everything they are doing.

"Things like having our girls along to the club Open Day and feeling just as involved as the men – that's a big thing.

"We had kids coming up and asking for autographs from our girls – these are simple steps but important ones to take."

Potter has been tasked with leading the United ladies in the rebranded eight-team Championship, which will run as a single national division this term.

The third tier of the Scottish women's game, it will see Ayr compete with Renfrew, Hutchison Vale, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Morton, Rossvale, Dryburgh Athletic and Livingston.

Potter, 38, added: "Everyone will be keen to make their mark and it's going to be a real test for the girls each week.

"But I wouldn't have come here if I didn't have ambition and we'll set our own targets within the group and look to go from there."

Clare Docherty, who will form a key part of Potter's on-field plans, also performs the role of United's head of women and girls set-up.

She said: "Craig has already raised the standard of everything we're doing and the players are only going to improve for working under him.

"We have a clear pathway in place within our setup and all the girls coming through have that target of aiming for the performance squad and playing in the Championship.

"People are talking about the women's game like never before off the back of what happened with the Lionesses and hopefully we can start writing our own headlines here."

United begin their season at Morton on Sunday at the Parklea Sports Complex in Inverclyde – kick-off 3pm.

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