Ayr United's star striker Dipo Akinyemi has been nominated for the PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year award.

The prolific frontman has found the net 20 times in 35 matches in the second tier - making him the division's leading scorer - since joining from English National League South team Welling United.

There were rumours that Somerset Park bosses knocked back a £250,000 bid for the striker earlier in the season - a significant amount for a Scottish Championship side.

The other three players on the shortlist are Queen's Park's Dominic Thomas and Grant Savoury as well as Dundee's Paul McMullan.

There's little doubt, though, that Akinyemi would happily forego the individual accolade if it meant Ayr could secure their place in the end-of-season play-offs as the Championship reaches one of the most exciting climaxes Scottish football has seen in years.

Nine of the league's 10 teams have something to play for in the final round of fixtures this Friday night - whether that be the league title, safety from relegation, or a promotion or relegation play-off place.

Ayr currently lie fourth ahead of their final fixture away to fifth-top Inverness, with both teams on 55 points and Lee Bullen's side ahead thanks to a significantly better goal difference.

A win would guarantee a play-off place for Akinyemi and his team-mates - while a draw would also be enough, but only if sixth-placed Morton fail to win away to a Cove Rangers side who are battling against the drop.

After Ayr's 1-0 victory over Raith Rovers on Saturday, Bullen said: “Ultimately, we’re still in a position where we can finish second, and still in a position where we can finish sixth. 

“We’ve got a great opportunity. We’ve had a good season. It would be nice to go up there and finish it off and get the result that we want. 

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“The fans have gone up there in the past when there’s only been three points on the line. This is slightly bigger, isn’t it? 

“We gave them the result we wanted to give them [by beating Raith]. And now we’re going on to next week and I’m sure we’ll do the job.”

All of Friday night's fixtures kick off at 7.45pm.