Lee Bullen admits his biggest challenge is stopping Ayr United fans from being GREEDY for success.
The head coach marks one year in charge at Somerset Park this Saturday.
Progress on the park has been impressive with Bullen’s new-look side morphing into title contenders.
The former Sheffield Wednesday ace confesses United are well ahead of his own timetable.
But he insists they must not fear aiming big as they head into 2023.
Bullen said: “The last few games have been a reality check for us because the better you do, the more greedy people become.
“But when you look at where we’ve been - both on and off the park – you need to realise the phenomenal step forward Ayr United have taken.
“The most important thing for me in coming here was that there was a clear strategy from the club in terms of where we were going.
“We knew that in terms of recruitment, we would have to gamble a bit.
“We’ve been lucky that 80 to 90 per cent of those have been successful.
“And all the guys who’ve come in have played a big part along the way in our journey.”
Bullen’s big switch last January saw him leave behind his partner and two young kids in Sheffield to roll the managerial dice at Ayr.
It’s a move which has so far paid dividends with both Bullen and Ayr’s stock rising fast.
He said: “Adjusting to the day-to-day side of management has been big for me.
“I had the short spells in charge down at Wednesday but it’s a completely different kettle of fish when decisions you make impact everyone around you.
“Trying to portray the right image outwardly to Ayr in general is important to me.
“The role you hold is vital in terms of taking the time to go out and watch the ladies team and the Academy teams.
“You don’t necessarily get the pats on the back but people notice.
“Bizarrely, my own family circumstances have allowed me to do that in terms of them being down the road.
“If my kids were up here I’d be spending time with them at the park instead of being able to do what I do in the community.
“Perversely it has been a positive as much as it has been a negative from my own personal point of view.”
Bullen’s move from Hillsborough to Somerset Park has been seamless with the former Dunfermline and Falkirk ace leading from the front in a new culture at United.
He added: “I didn’t find the transition as big a deal as many people thought it would be.
“Every club I’ve been at in my career has had their fires to fight in one way or another.
“So coming in here and trying to find our own training base or whatever it may be, that didn’t daunt me.
“I’ve had great support to put everything in place that I wanted and it’s all about improving Ayr United small steps at a time.
“The chairman could throw £2m at it and say go and be a success but that’s not how to do it.
“We’re in this for the long haul, not the short haul, and we see the bigger picture of the journey.”
Bullen added: “When I came in I was really surprised by how supportive the fanbase was.
“We’d played 11 of the previous 18 seasons in the league below and I thought there may be a bit of apathy.
“But there wasn’t a bit of that and people here have really got behind me and the team.
“The start this season has given everyone an extra lift and the greed has gone through the roof but we shouldn’t fear it.
“Everyone is playing their part – from those on the park to the cooks and cleaners, the staff in the shop and those in the admin office.
“You see far more Ayr scarves and hats around the town now and get the feeling that things are really moving in the right direction.”
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