Wages Day

THINGS seem to be going a bit pear shaped on the park at the moment with us gift wrapping points for both Livi and the Arabs at Rugby Park in the last two weeks. One major gripe of many fans has been the lack of commitment shown by some of the guys whose wages we're paying…sometimes it looks as if they just don't care. We're not for a minute suggesting that any of players go out there not bothered if they win or not, anyone who has ever played football at any level will know that professionals play to win. Just that there does not seem to be as much bite and determination on show as there used to be.

Killie are not the only team to be suffering from this problem, the majority of fans seem to be witnessing

similar symptoms throughout the SPL, so what is the root of the problem? We think it's the filthy lucre to blame! If the game in Scotland is to improve any as a spectacle then players contracts have to be looked at seriously. We spoke to Dylan Kerr prior to his departure and he told us that the guys have no real incentive to perform like they did when he started out. Basic wages were low to reasonable (i.e. on par with what you would get paid for a 'real' job) and big bonuses were on offer based on results.

If we base all our new contracts on that theory and the players are playing out their skin for their dough every week then the results should get better, the fans should come back and we could afford to pay the players the bonus money! We realise that all sounds very simplistic but in our view that is where the whole wage scenario went to pot all those years ago. Club chairmen started paying stupid money for basic wages and the performance related pay went out the window...our game has been dying a slow death ever since...its time we turned back the clock in that respect and went back to the old payment methods. I bet you we'd see some really passionate games then!

It's fair to say that if the club goes down that route then it will be difficult to attract top quality players, but that is the very reason the whole thing went down hill in the first place. The clubs who wanted the best players started offering bigger basic wages and less win bonuses and in their attempts to outdo each other the whole thing spiraled out of control...the only real winner being the players who were now getting mega bucks for just turning up every week.

It all has to stop somewhere before the majority of clubs simply fold and then the players will have done themselves out of a decent job with fewer professional clubs on the go. The simple fact is that the sport cannot sustain the financial mess it's got itself into. If UEFA don't start putting some restraints on the way the professional game is run, then football as we know it will be consigned to history and we'll all end up watching amateur games. Or even worse the two pro clubs that might be left in Scotland in a European league...they'd love that wouldn't they!

We are great believers in only allowing clubs a set percentage of their turnover to spend on wages. That way clubs would be forced to live within their means. If a club could then assemble a decent squad under a good manager (that's what it's all about after all) then success on the park should in turn be rewarded with more cash, a bigger turnover, and more money to spend on wages...and so on. It all seems a bit idealistic as we've said before, but nonetheless...football needs some kind of restructuring and something to aspire to, so why not?

Praise Indeed

WHEN we started doing this column we were aware that we were going to leave ourselves open to abuse because you can't please everyone all the time and some folk were bound to disagree with some of the stuff we write. The feedback so far has been mainly positive but for the most part we only ever hear from anyone about the column when they have something to dig us up about. It was a pleasant surprise therefore when Davie Mackinnon sent us the following e-mail last week:

"At this time of year we always think about the positive things the New Year will bring. I certainly feel that in recent weeks there appears to be a 'coming together' of all interested in the ongoing welfare of KFC. There are some considerable challenges ahead, but it has always been my philosophy that if everyone pulls the same way then any organisation can excel. There will be differences of opinion and disagreements on policy, but if everyone has the welfare of KFC uppermost, then success will be delivered.

I have always encouraged people to challenge decisions that they consider wrong, but I have always ensured these same people have all the facts required to make a balanced input to these decisions, so I welcome your honest and committed drive for KFC. Thank you for your positive swing on things in the last few weeks, with it comes the optimism for the future that I spoke about earlier.

Since I came to the Club I have followed clear and focused business ethics with communication and input from all the relevant parties. It is a formula that has worked for me in over 16 years in business, and is one which is starting to show positive results at the Club. As part of that ethic I look forward to your valued input to the important development issues that await us in 2004, so have a great Christmas and New Year guys. C'mon ra Killie."

What a big sook eh! We hope that Davie is right and that things will eventually take a turn for the better. As he says, it is important in the long run that the various factions (and there are many) that support Killie all pull in a similar direction if the club is to ever fulfill it's potential. We need to start bringing people back in out of the cold and making them a part of things and we need to make sure we keep the extra 2000 season ticket holders we have this year before we start thinking about how to bring in new ones. All very clichéd, all very obvious, but all very true.

Get Well Soon Davie

THERE are not many folk who can be called a true Killie legend but one genuine legend is Davie Sneddon. His place in Killie history was guaranteed when he headed the vital opening goal at Tynecastle in our league winning game in 1965. Davie was a Killie player from 1961-1967, arguably the most successful period in the club's history.

After his career ended local boy Davie was still Killie daft and fulfilled a dream by becoming Killie manager from 1977-1981. Even after his managerial stint ended Davie could still be seen at Rugby Park as first and foremost he is a Killie fan.

Nowadays Davie is still a prominent figure on match days where he can be seen in the Park Suite carrying out his hospitality duties. Davie's had to go into hospital recently for a hip operation so he'll be missing from his beloved Rugby Park for a wee while. Get well soon Davie; the place isn't the same without you.

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