Ayr United have announced a one-year extension to the contracts of manager Scott Brown and his assistant Steven Whittaker – which will see the pair remain at the club until 2027 – in a short club statement.

Manager Brown was the subject of speculation this week when the former Celtic captain was linked with a move to St Johnstone.

In the wake of Craig Levein's dismissal from the Perthshire outfit, the one-time Scotland internationalist became a frontrunner for the vacancy, and it was reported the 39-year-old was open to discussions with the McDiarmid Park side.

Previously this week:

It emerged earlier today, however, that Brown was almost certain to stay put at his current club who currently sit top of the Scottish Championship, having played two games more than second-place Falkirk.

Now, Ayr United have put any speculation to rest for the immediate future, with a single-sentence statement totalling just 19 words.

In a news story posted to the Ayr United official website titled 'Club Statement on the Management Team', the statement reads: "Ayr United can confirm that Scott Brown & Steven Whittaker have signed extended contracts at Somerset Park until 2027."