Kick Off

AT LONG last the friendlies are done and dusted, the ridiculous tabloid transfer speculation is coming to an end and we can get down to the serious business of SPL football. Due to the TV schedules Killie are kicking off earlier than the rest at 12.30pm so many Killie fans not travelling to the game will be watching the action on Setanta. Our pre-season appears to have gone well with the trip to Italy ensuring our fitness levels are good and the friendly games, as a whole, have gone well. The games in Dumfries and Elgin gave JJ the chance to juggle the team around and though we lost to Ross County that was the only defeat we suffered. Last week’s encounters against West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End provided good work-outs as both teams are expected to be challenging at the top end of the championship.

JJ will have a good idea what his starting eleven will be at Parkhead although there may still be one or two positions to be finalised. With Alan Combe still recovering from injury, big Graeme Smith will be charged with trying to start the season with a clean sheet!! Simon Ford could be out for another 3 - 4 months so our options in central defence are already limited. Greer and Hay will probably fill the full back roles with Lilley and Wright in the centre although if we decide to play three centre backs then Grant Murray may get an early debut.

If we play four in midfield it may well be Invincible, Fowler, Johnston and Naismith however we have been known to shuffle the pack against the old firm in which case Gary Locke may start. In attack Paul Di Giacomo has been excellent in the friendly games and has given the boss a selection headache. It’s quite possible we will start with Nish and Jacko however Gary Wales is pushing for a place or JJ may opt for the 'lone striker' formation.

We’re sure you’re all sick reading that we haven’t won up there for over 50 years but the players won’t be worrying about those kind of statistics. We need to go out with a positive attitude and press the game to ensure the hosts don’t lay siege to our goals. We may well be getting Celtic at a good time but they are extremely difficult to beat on their own patch so all we can ask is for a good Killie performance mixed with a little slice of luck...c’mon the Killie!

Fresh Blood?

GRANT MURRAY has been the only new face to join us during the summer but by the time you read this that situation may have changed. Trialist Andrew Barrowman featured in the W.B.A and Preston games and JJ is thought to be considering a short term contract deal for the former Birmingham and Walsall striker.

Midfielder Keith Lasley was injured up at Elgin and hasn’t worn the squirrels on his chest since however if he can shake off the injury he may well get another chance…….he was a cracking wee player during his time at Motherwell. If JJ can’t sign players on a permanent deal he may look at the option of bringing in players on loan although that can cause problems as the other club will want the player to be playing in every game.

Killie Festival

THE KILLIE FESTIVAL proved to be a success last weekend as thousands turned out to enjoy the blazing sunshine. The club had added extra attractions this year with bands playing, more kids entertainment and of course the players mingling with the fans. Meeting the players is THE most exciting attraction for many of the kids and we can’t stress how important it is that the club make use of the players at every opportunity. The Killie Trust is willing to help in this area and hopefully, through the Trust involvement, you’ll be seeing the Killie players becoming more prominent in the community throughout the coming season.
(Sandy Ferguson's pic's are - Here)

Where Will It End?

ONE VERY worrying piece of news to come out the club is that they have sold a part of the car park, adjacent to the bungalow, for residential development. This topic is generating a huge amount of debate on Killiefc.com and is obviously a subject that Killie fans feel passionately about. The chairman tells us it will generate substantial income however when any club starts selling off its assets it generally ends up in tears.

The development is for 24 flats and will generate in the region of £500k, a sum that won’t make much of a dent in our debt when you consider we are expected to make a loss of around £300k for year ending 31st May 2006. There will also be a reduction of around 34 car parking spaces so we recommend you get across to the ground a bit earlier once the work starts. This is not the type of news we enjoy writing about and the inevitable alarm bells will start ringing around the town with fans asking us…where will it all end?

KSA Meeting

THURSDAY EVENING 27th July sees the latest Kilmarnock Supporters Association meeting in the Park Suite starting at 7.30pm. There will be someone from the club in attendance so get along and find out the latest news...the meeting is open to all Killie fans. If anyone is thinking about running a regular bus to away games, we’d recommend you get across and register with the K.S.A. It only costs £10 per travel club and will ensure you are kept up to date with all ticket, policing and travel issues that may arise throughout the season.

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