Season Ticket Offer Update

The reaction to the club's season ticket offer last week has been fantastic and would you believe that on the Monday morning after the announcement there were fans going into the club shop wanting to sign-up!

The information you have already read about Buy One Get One Free is definite, however, some of the lesser details have still to be ironed out as the nature of the offer means thousands of potentially different scenarios can occur. We are hoping these issues will be resolved any day now and once that happens we will be giving you all the information you need.

One issue close to my heart, well my belly to be precise, is the disappearance of the free pie

voucher, however, that tasty offer is no longer

available so I'll need to save my pennies for the kebab shop on a Saturday night. In the meantime we want all Killie fans to spread the word about this ground breaking ticket offer and try and get a record number of fans back to Rugby Park next season.

Hampden Hero

The recent departure of 'Super Ally' Mitchell to St Mirren was sad for several reasons. Ally was our longest serving player and more importantly his exit means that there are none of the 1997 Cup Final squad sill plying their trade at the Theatre of Pies. One cup legend who still holds Killie close to his heart is the charismatic left back from 1997, Dylan Kerr.

Dylan (Buckaroo Champion 2003) has recently attended a couple of fan's party nights at the Howard Arms and everyone who's been there will tell you the guy's a star. He's first to join in the all the fun and is always willing to share a joke and a story with the fans. One recent story he told me involved an unfulfilled ambition he still had whilst here in Scotland. Dylan had always wanted to play at Hampden Park and he thought his chance had gone when he found himself with no club at the start of this year. There was only one thing to do, find out who was playing at Hampden that week and 'sweet talk' one of the team managers.

The upcoming fixture was Queen's Park against East Stirling and, as he knew Danny Diver, the East Stirling manager, it was an opportunity not to be missed. One phone call was all it took and at 3.00pm on Saturday 18th January the bold boy appeared for the visitors under his alter ego 'trialist'. The story doesn't end there of course, East Stirling won an epic struggle 4-3 and guess who scored two of the goals (including the winner from a free kick in the dying seconds) at the national stadium? It's good to know Dylan is still Killie daft and helps run a youth team as well as doing a bit of hospitality stuff on match days. Now there's a man that could improve the "PR" output from Rugby Park!

Live Chat
How many clubs in the SPL, or in the whole country for that matter, have made a concerted effort to communicate directly with the fans? The answer is simple, none so far. This week saw killiefc.com's second live chat with the club take place, the first being with former gaffer Bobby Williamson, and CEO David Heath plus manager Jim Jefferies were the two in the firing line this time.

For two hours they answered questions put to them directly from Killie fans all over the world and over the next two weeks we will seek out the most relevant sections of the transcript and let you see what the men at the helm were saying. Due to the developments regarding our 125 campaign this week we will start with David Heath's contribution…

Q: Will the club go the full hog to promote 135 season ticket?
A: We'll go the full hippo! There will be mail shots to all lapsed season ticket holders from up to 5 years back, a big launch day probably on March 23rd and possible road shows etc.

Q: Can children get half price season tickets - under 14 years old that is?
A: Everybody gets buy one get one free. So a 14 year old buys a ticket and gets a voucher for a free one for another non season ticket holding child. Also if you buy a more expensive ticket - say an adult one, then you can get anther adult ticket or a less expensive one free.

Q: Will Kids for a Quid still be running as it affects what stand an adult may choose to buy a season ticket for?
A: We will drop Kids for a Quid and encourage a Moffat Stand buy one get one free adult and child non old firm ticket for 270. We may also do a Moffat child buy one get one free.

Q: Is it true that season ticket holders in the East Stand will lose there seats when the half price ticket thing happens next year?
A: As it currently stands we think that open seating is the best way to allow the people pairing up to sit together and also improve the atmosphere. However, as we have done before, if there is a huge groundswell against this we will review it - one option is to put a time limit on when you can get your own seat - e.g. first month of sales.

Q: Why do you think the atmosphere is so bad at home when we seem to make a lot of noise with far less supporters at away games?
A: I honestly think it's because over time people have been split up and that open seating is the best approach but I know this is a concern to a lot - but away matches tell their own story.

Q: David, what did you think of Graham Spiers' comments i.e. not a chance of 8000 sales?
A: I think Graham Spiers is funny, but a bit too condescending. I called him today and we're meeting week commencing March 3rd to have a discussion, which he'll hopefully write up. I'm also going to have a bet with them so you guys better deliver on the season tickets!

Q: Do you see opportunities to use the Hotel for other club and international teams e.g. Germany to boost revenue?
A: We got great reviews from the Irish squad and we have the German Under 21 international game here. Unfortunately we have a wedding party on the Saturday of the game. We're trying to see if the German's plan to check out on the Saturday, otherwise we might not get the room business. Still at least it shows the hotels busy!

Q: I had no idea that fans were welcomed into the hotel before the game. Sounds like a great idea. Does this happen all the time?
A: There's a fan's bar in the pre-drinks area which holds about 150 - usually we have the big screen TV on with the English Premiership games - it will be open this Sunday.

Q: What percentage of club income will be generated long term with the increasing popularity of The Park Hotel?
A: We hope to generate 2.25 million from the hotel in mature state. Football revenues about 4.5 - 5.5 depending on cup runs, league position etc.

Q: Is there going to be a share issue and, if so, when will we hear about it?
A: There are some complications with the financial services act and the cost of doing a share issue but we're looking at options including using a supporters trust to do it. Reviewing at board meeting next week but keen to do something. 

Q: What are the chances of Killie bringing in some new faces in light of the financial difficulties?
A: There's a limit to the money next year, however Jim has shown he's top notch at moving players in and out so there is no one will do a better job with the budget we have than him.

Q: Do you think the SPL will end up like the Irish league?
A: I think in the long term there will be restructuring but there will be opportunities for Killie perhaps in an improved British set-up - but that's just my view.

Q: Is the deal between the 10 and the 2 really the best deal? Are you happy with it if it was a compromise?
A: We got most of what we wanted - 8:4 voting structure, Pay per View money in the main pot, more percentage of TV revenue to the ten. I think we did well. The press reported differently of course.

Q: Why do we give the old firm both ends of the ground as they are attacking their own fans both halves?
A: Because we get 75 grand a stand for it 4 times a season and at the moment Killie fans don't buy enough tickets.

Q: Given the government's stance on sectarianism, why are the stewards/police at RP reluctant to expel old firm fans?
A: Police and stewards honestly believe that on occasions they haven't thrown people out they haven't been behaving in a sectarian manner. However, I have a meeting with a councilor next week to help develop a sectarian policy for the club.

Q: The catering has been disappointing e.g. pies running out before half time is there any changes to this for next season?
A: The contract was for a year and we will be subbing it out again and giving others to option to bid - quality is an issue that would need to be addressed by the existing people.

Q: David, remember the Gateway Project? What happened and are there plans to complete Killie's training / youth academy?
A: We submitted a bid in January for a youth academy project that can be afforded - the previous ones were too expensive - we'll hear early April if we're successful.

Q: There is a planning application to build a full size indoor Astroturf pitch at Townholm, in this week's Standard. Is this from the club/youth academy or is someone trying to muscle in on the land?
A: It's part of the academy. A revamp of the 4 Dean Park pitches, a new artificial pitch plus an indoor arena.

Q: Will the indoor pitch be available to the public?
A: Yes it will and so will the artificial outdoor one and the Dean Park pitches - the club and Kilmarnock College get first call but there will be plenty of capacity. The outdoor one can split and the indoor one will split into two or three five a side pitches also, if needed.

Q: Why two new strips again next season?
A: Because more people seem to want a new strip that the people who think its a bad idea.

Q: What will next seasons strips look like?
A: Next season's home strip will be a traditional blue and white stripe (blue stripe in the middle) with blue shorts. The away one will be dark blue with sky blue side panels and the red one will also stay.

Q: Where do you see Kilmarnock FC in 10 years time?
A: In a British league top first or premier division, with enhanced fans ownership of the club and a burgeoning youth academy which has huge community benefits also a successful hotel, leisure center and office development.

Read the B&H column in the Kilmarnock Standard every week