Jay Henderson leaves Ross County to join Championship outfit Ayr United on a season-long loan
Jay Henderson has become the latest player to leave Ross County ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The 22-year-old winger made the move to Dingwall from St Mirren last summer, but struggled to nail down his place in the side, making 15 appearances across all competitions and scoring one goal.
In a bid to play more first team football, then, he has agreed to join Championship outfit Ayr United on loan for the upcoming campaign.
Henderson’s exit follows confirmation that four of County’s out of contract stars would be leaving the club this summer.
Jordan Tillson had already confirmed his own exit on social media last week, bringing an end to a four-and-a-half year spell in Dingwall.
He had made over 100 appearances for the Staggies across all competitions, scoring a single goal.
Academy products Matthew Wright and Adam Mackinnon will also be leaving the club upon the expiry of their contracts.
Wright spent time out on loan at Brora Rangers, Montrose, Falkirk, Elgin City and Brechin City, but also made eight appearances for County’s first team – memorably scoring a last-gasp equaliser in front of the Jail End against Rangers.
Mackinnon also had temporary spells at Brora Rangers, Montrose and Arbroath, playing six times for County’s senior squad.
Finally, the long-expected exit of Yan Dhanda has been confirmed, with the midfielder having signed a pre-contract deal with Hearts.
Dhanda has been a star man for County over the last two years, and played a key role as they battled to avoid relegation over recent weeks, but County fans are optimistic that others will be able to step up in his absence next season.
“I think we’ll still have quality there,” Ross Morren, host of The County Corner podcast, said.
“Obviously Yan has been huge for the club, and the way that he has ended the season has been huge. When players sign pre-contracts, their season can sometimes wither away, but in crucial moments at the end of the season when we were fighting relegation Yan has put in some of his best performances of the season.
“We are going to miss that quality, but with the likes of Kyle Turner coming back it’s an opportunity for him to step up.
“We’ve seen that when we lost the likes of Regan Charles-Cook or Joe Hungbo, there is a void that is left behind, and you’re never going to quite see the same quality unless you get very lucky with your recruitment.
“It’s an opportunity for other players to step up though. The fact that Simon Murray scored 23 goals this season, and he’s under contract so we’re not losing that, the spine of the team is there.
“If we can add elements of quality into that and replace the boys who are leaving, I think we’ll be okay.”
