Ayr United hang on to their place in the Championship

The Honest Men went into the game knowing if results went their way, then they only needed to get a point in the highlands to avoid the League One relegation play-off spots.

Arbroath and Greenock Morton playing out a 0-0 draw meant that Todd’s all important equaliser in the second half ensured Ayr’s safety on goal difference.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Hopkin said: “Josh came in and I tried to sign him a few times at Livingston and at Morton and all for different reasons he stayed at Falkirk.

“He’s an experienced player and you can see how fit he is, but he has only played two games in the past three or four months, so to come in and give you that energy and belief is unbelievable.

“I thought he was the best player on the park on Friday and to score the goal to keep us in the Championship, it is fantastic. “

Hopkin seems enamoured to have finally got his man at Ayr United and is even talking about potentially signing him up on a permanent deal for next season.

The gaffer says he plans to get the whole squad in for talks about signing on for next season this week, with Todd high up on his list, with his Falkirk deal expiring this summer. I have told the players I will give them a few days off and then we will get them back in to have a chat about next season.

“Josh is a player I am keen to keep at the club and I think he has enjoyed the time he has been here, with the environment we have. “

Hopkin remains realistic on the long-term project of the club as they scraped past a potentially tricky relegation play-off.

He said: “I think we have to take stock of where we finished, we just stayed up on goal difference on the last game of the season. We have to build something here, we cannot go ahead and say we will spend money and finish fourth or fifth.

“It will be a competitive league next season yet again, with Partick getting promoted, so it will be a tough year.”