Neil had taken over from Robert Conner after a disaterous start to last season and steadied the ship sufficiently to not only avoid the threatened relegation, but to take Ayr to within a whisker of the paly off places.
After a bad start to the season Ayr steadied and began to move up the league. But recent defeats culminating in a 4-1 home thrashing by Ross County at the weekend led neil to his decision.
Many supporters have been unimpressed by him and consider that the club are certainly no better off than in Conners' day. The signings he has brought in have proved to be mediocre, which on hindsight isn't surprising when you look at where most of them have come from.
In recent weeks it seemed that he manager did not have a settled formation and on Saturday tried several different formations which is frankly madness at Ayr's level of football.
Despite this many will think that Neil Watt should have stayed longer than he did and at least have waited to the New Year.
Further news on his reasons are awaited but many will be interested I know to know why Watt has decided to go. There have been rumours of dressing room unrest and if this is the case, what what was the cause of that?
The Ayr United Board are ambitious and it may be that Neil just pre-empted an inevitable decision by the Board to sack.
So, who now?
Malcolm Shotton has been suggested, although Billy Stark at Queen's Park, considered the best team to have graced Somerset Park this season if he is still interested would be a reasonable choice.
Much will depend on how the club is viewed. As long as our budget for
playing staff is competitive then United should be able to attract several applicants. After all the ratio of senior clubs to would-be managers is still pretty small.