Fat Boys Slim

MY portly mucker and I have decided that it was time we were not quite so portly...or we'll never see the other side of forty. We thought it would be a good idea to make some cash for the club at the same time so we've come up with the 'Fat Boys Slim' Challenge.

Basically it's a direct competition between the two of us to see who can lose the most weight in ten weeks. The big weigh-in will be in Howard HQ after the huns game on Sunday February 8 with the final weigh-in being April 18...and the loser will have to perform a forfeit, which has yet to be decided. Before and during the competition we will be looking for sponsorship in either cash per pound or a donation and in the end we hope to raise enough dough to buy a load of kids match tickets to try and fill that Moffat Stand a bit.

If we make enough we will donate the tickets to some local schools...that way we get more fans at the match and the club will benefit from the ticket sales. This is our first event this season to try and really make a difference and we hope that you will support us in our efforts. Davie Mackinnon has already agreed to help us out where necessary and John & David Gall (of Brownings The Bakers) are being as generous as ever and have offered to give a free Killie Pie to every kid who we manage to buy a ticket for.

We will keep you updated on our progress on the website and in the column every week, and if we really coin it in we will ask for the whole Moffat Stand at the next Old Firm game. That would be nice! So what can you do? First of all, we have sponsor sheets made up already and signing one of them would be a good start. Secondly we are looking for ideas as to what the forfeit should be...something legal preferably! Last but not least we are looking for a few others to take up that challenge, all you need is a beer gut from hell, a fat friend and lot of willpower.

If you want to make a contribution but won't get the chance to see either of us in the flesh (what a thought) you can contact Baz on 07710 553 693 or Hippo on 07747 718 754 or e-mail B&H@killiefc.com, people have started sending in cash already. Ten weeks of no beer and kebabs, that must surely be worth a couple of quid just to watch us suffer!

Few Seats Left For Wales

THE bus from the Kadikoi to the Scotland game in Cardiff is filling up fast so you better get on the ol' dog and bone if you want to book your seat. There is less than 20 seats left and Tetley tells me he's expecting the remaining seats to be taken up shortly. To book your seat (£40 each) call Colin Boyd on 0789 0416290 or call the pub on 01563 534196.

Next Association Meeting

The next meeting of the KFC Supporters Association takes place in the Killie Club next Thursday February 12 with a 7.30pm kick-off. It is hoped that David Mackinnon will be in attendance to answer the fans queries on all things Killie. Get yourself along and hear what is new at the Theatre of Pies - all fans are welcome to attend.

SPL in Freefall

No matter where football is discussed these days it appears events off the park are sparking far more debate than the entertainment on the field of play. Livingston is the latest club to go public with their financial mess and there must be genuine fears for their very existence. The West Lothian club appears to be more fragile than many of their rivals due to them being a "new" club in the game. Their fan base has to be fairly small and their biggest worry is that they won't have enough fans to rally round when the administrators pass the begging bowl. The SPL has brought in a ruling that clubs in administration on May 31 will lose ten points before the next season starts - at this rate it could well be some clubs will have to wait until Xmas before having no points!

Meanwhile you have to look at the clubs that have already went into administration, and then wonder why everyone isn't seriously considering it. Apparently it's an easy way to bump off all your top earners, not pay your debts and start all over again with a more or less clean state…somewhere nearer the top of the league. While honest clubs like Killie and Aberdeen are languishing at the bottom of the division, look at the fortunes of Motherwell and Dundee. Both clubs paid off a host of players and yet have still been allowed to wheel and deal in the transfer market, this is nothing short of shocking. Only this week Dundee brought in the Premierships top reserve goal scorer, Sebastien Kneissl from Chelsea, and a midfielder from Portsmouth. At the same time they are sending some of their own youngster out on loan to 'smaller' clubs…they really want to look at the rules again.

So where do Killie stand in all this madness? Jamie Moffat issued a statement stating "I have given further support to the Bank of Scotland, which secures our facilities over the next year." Reading between the lines it appears that the chairman has put up another loan or guarantee to keep the Halifax Bank of Scotland at bay. We're fortunate that we have someone on board that can do this but it must be time to put a sound long-term financial plan in place that will allow the club to stand on its own two feet without individuals constantly having to dig deep. The club have stated that they are re-launching 'The Big Match' so we'd urge them to let the fans see the plans first so that everyone can do their bit in ensuring Killie are a step ahead of their rivals. In the meantime make sure and sponsor our "Fat Boys Slim" plan as all money raised will go to the club.

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