Players Passion, Self Promotion

We have been saying to the club for a while now that they are not using the biggest promotional tool they have to any effect...the players and management team. There is too much distance between the fans and the playing staff these days, no where near the interaction we used to have.

Hippo tells me that Jean Milloy used to go into the dressing rooms and personally get a list of players to attend fan's functions, and there was no shortage of volunteers...that's just not the case any more. I realise that times have changed and we are now a 'big' club in respect of being the fourth best in Scotland...but we were once the best team in Scotland and never had this problem then!

We need Killie players to wear our colours with pride

and appreciate what an honour it is to play for an institution like Kilmarnock FC. Too many of them seem to look on it just as a job or a stepping stone to a 'bigger' club. Of course it may be difficult to motivate themselves as such if they support other teams, then it is down to the fans to get behind them and make them feel that they are part of something special. Bring back the Rugby Park roar!

Increased attendances next season will hopefully go some way towards resurrecting some of the atmosphere at the Theatre of Pies. A better atmosphere should in turn spur the players on to greater things...which should help create a better atmosphere and so it goes on. Equally things could spiral in the opposite direction that's why we have to be make sure that we at least do our bit and hope that the players rise to the occasion. Look how well we did this season, imagine what we could do with a partisan crowd at every game.

Getting back to the original point, the onus is on the club to start using the players as more than just commodities on the park. Let's get them out there and involved in the community. One Killie player making an appearance at a school is better than none, but send a few along and hit a few more schools and witness how many kids will suddenly see Killie in a different light. All they ever see are old firm players in the papers on a daily basis, lets get some posters printed up with Killie players so the kids can have Rugby Park idols adorning their walls.

Equally, the players could learn a thing or two from guys like Monty and Broono. Neither, and no disrespect is intended here, were up there as the most skillful players to ever play for the club, but with hearts as big as theirs, who will ever forget them? They showed a passion on the park that fans identified with and got the crowd really going (back to atmosphere again). We laugh about how Monty was always 'kissing the squirrels' but anyone who says that didn't make the hairs on the back of their neck stand up is a liar!

Andy McLaren is not everyone's favourite player due to being a bit inconsistent at times, but I'm not alone in hoping that his contract will be sorted out and he'll stay. He is one of the few players in our current squad that can have a bit of banter with the crowd and get us more involved in the game. We hate the way he constantly moans at the referee but can understand his frustration in doing so (for the most part). It may get him more than his fair share of yellow cards, but while some people see that as just daft, others see it as him actually caring about what happens. An attribute in a player not to be overlooked. Jim Jefferies claimed that our dressing room was the quietest he had ever been in, imagine what it would be like without Andy.

Someone said to me recently that the problem with the club is that it needs to be properly branded. Well we will have a new sales team in soon and hopefully they will be able to do something about it. We already have the product, what we have to do is market it successfully and make sure that Killie products are topping kids' Christmas lists and are not floundering at the bottom somewhere. The 125 initiative will hopefully be the catalyst in turning things around in the stands, and next season should see us go from strength to strength. Let's make sure we let people know what they will be missing out on if they don't get involved!

Wanted - One General Manager

Following the announcement a few weeks ago that David Heath was leaving his post as Chief Executive the club have now advertised for a General Manager to take his place. It appears the club feel there is no further need for a Chief Executive, however, the new post will broadly cover the same role and responsibilities. It's vital that the right man/woman is found, as one of their duties is to develop the relationship between club and fans. This is an area that many fans feel needs improvement although David Heath has worked hard to build some bridges.

The "Killie Trust" will also be looking at what can be done and hopefully will work with the club in promoting any new initiatives. We need to look at the feel good factor that existed in the Bobby Fleeting era and try and get back to a situation where supporters are valued and made to feel a part of the club. There was a Killie story in the papers almost every day and if the chairman had told us Elvis was doing a comeback concert at Rugby Park, we'd have been queuing for tickets overnight. We need someone who has similar qualities and has a genuine desire to see the club improve both on and off the park. I'd urge the club to take their time to ensure they get the right person but if you want to apply you better move fast as applications have to be in by June 6th for the 50 grand a year post.

Season Ticket Update

Sales of season tickets remain steady and the club will be trying to help publicise the offer throughout the summer months. The "share centre" is ticking along and we're getting through the list as best we can. There are still plenty of current holders looking to be paired-up so why not give us a call and we'll get you sorted out. Call Sandy on 0774 771 8754.

Celtic Saga Rumbles On

Following on from the huge amounts of mail that we received last week about events surrounding the Celtic game, the club issued a statement on the official web site. It read: "The Board of Kilmarnock Football Club is very concerned by the feedback we are receiving through personal visits, email messages and letters regarding the problems which arose on Sunday, with the majority of these caused by Celtic fans being mixed with Kilmarnock fans."

"It had been evident for some time that the match would be a sell out because it was turning out to be a league decider. It was also apparent that a large number of Celtic fans had purchased tickets for the Kilmarnock areas of the stadium. A number of meetings were held with the Police and Rock Steady to agree how we would attempt to control the situation."

"It was our understanding and desire that anyone attempting to gain entry to a Kilmarnock designated area wearing Celtic colours would be refused entry and anyone gaining entry and causing problems would be removed. At the last meeting which took place on Thursday 22 May, which was attended by the police, it was made clear to those representing Kilmarnock FC that the decision to let Celtic fans enter these areas rested with the Match Commander and would be made on grounds of public safety. He expressed concerns as to the problems which would arise if a large volume of Celtic fans were refused entry and could not be accommodated in the sterile areas we had designated. On match day, initially a number of Celtic fans were refused entry to the ground, however, it became apparent that this could lead to disorder outwith the stadium, therefore the decision was taken by the Match Commander to allow Celtic fans entry into the Kilmarnock areas. The conduct of all spectators in the ground was closely monitored throughout and only two people were arrested for minor offences."

"The Board will, once again, review the situation to try and make sure, wherever possible, that this does not happen again, as we do treat the feedback and comments we have been receiving over the last few days most seriously. The difficulty is controlling the sale of Kilmarnock tickets to opposition fans."

We felt that the fact only two arrests were made was purely down to the police's refusal to arrest anyone and is quite misleading, especially given the sheer number of incidents we've heard about, and the statement didn't go down too well with the fans who were privy to it. Association chief Colin Hargreaves chased it up further and arranged a meeting with Sir John Orr on Monday. The upshot of that pow-wow is that there will now be an open meeting at Rugby Park between the board and the fans, provisionally planned for Thursday 26th June, to discuss the events. We'll keep you informed about any date and venue changes.

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