Paul Wright joined Kilmarnock in March of 1995
from St Johnstone, for a club record £300K.
He will always be fondly remembered by the Killie faithful for "THAT"
goal.... You know the one that brought the Scottish Cup to Kilmarnock
on May 24th 1997. (Pictured above).
Paul on the 97 Cup
Winning Goal....."It
wasn't the
best goal of my life. I pulled away from my marker well
enough, but then I sclaffed my shot. However,
it went in and that's all that mattered to me at that moment."
1997 Scottish Cup Final Remembered
HERE
Bobby Williamson on
Paul Wright (May 2001)..........
" Paul Wright has been a great player for Killie, scoring many valuable
goals, and he will be long-remembered here. His departure may open the
door for some one else to become a goal scoring hero at Rugby Park. I
hope that Paul gets quickly fixed up with a new club and wish him all
the best for the future."
Paul Wright
(May 20th 2001)..........
"I'll go down on Sunday for the last time as a Kilmarnock player and, of
course, it will be sad. I've had six great years at the club and it
would have been nice to play one more game for them and take a bow in
front of the fans but it wasn't to be."There was no fall-out. The
manager has a decision to make and that's football."Now I'm just waiting
to see what will happen. This is the first time in my career I've been
freed but I half-expected it."I haven't featured in the team for the
past 10 weeks and the manager obviously has in mind who he has wants for
next season and that doesn't include me."It's disappointing because I
thought I could get another two years at the club and I'm actually still
top scorer for this season. But I suppose all
good things must come to an end."
He was described by many as a players player a
jouney-man if you will. He
notched 70 goals for Killie between 1995 & 2001. Of these 58 were scored
in the SPL, giving him 105 SPL goals for his career, as he netted 40 for
the Saints & 7 for Hibs. His last game for Killie was on Mar14th 2001,
when Killie lost at Hearts.
He then found himself out of favor with then manager Bobby Williamson,
and was omitted from the CIS Final squad, in favor of: Craig Dargo,
Christophe Cocard & Ally McCoist. It was then that "Bunion" (as he was
affectionately known) knew his Rugby Park playing days were over. He
finished up his playing career with Alex Totten (for a 3rd time) with
Falkirk and then Greenock Morton.
Paul, today is a manager in Scottish junior football.
May 2005 Wright
Reflects on Killie's Situation... 'It's 10 years
since I moved from St Johnstone to Kilmarnock and the sad thing is that
move wouldn't take place now.
'If I was 10 years younger and in a similar
situation, a deal like that wouldn't go ahead because Kilmarnock don't
have the money. And it 's hardly millions of pounds we're talking about.
'Every club is finding it hard. I now wonder
if Bosman was such a good thing because clubs like Killie relied on
transfer money to keep going.
'Kilmarnock were and are a great club. I
spent the best years of my career at Rugby Park and they remain a huge
part of my life.
'But now they have to sell the likes of Kris
to keep them going. Even the wages are getting slashed these days'When I
moved it was the Moffat family who wrote the cheque to ensure my
transfer. Jamie Moffat is a great chairman and the club will survive
because of them.
'But the crowds are down and every time I
read a paper there is a story about a club struggling.'
On Kris Boyd... 'Kris is
a good player but I can understand why the club have to take the money
if someone comes in for him.
'But I wouldn't say he will definitely move
to Aberdeen because there will be a lot of clubs interested in him'Kris
is one of the biggest talents in the Scottish game.
'When I left Killie he was just coming
through the ranks.
'I used to take him aside and work with him
along with Ally McCoist.
'All the strikers would get him involved
and, hopefully, it paid dividends.
'To lose your top scorer is a big blow to
any club and it will be a big job to replace him, especially when they
can't go out and spend money.'
Wright, however, doesn't think the picture
at his old club is completely bleak.
He hopes the shortage of money means they
will be forced to encourage young players to come through.
'Killie have a decent record of producing
their own talent.
'I hope Jim Jefferies gives the kids a
chance next season.
'That is perhaps the only good thing to come
out of all this"
He may be gone... BUT ...
he will NEVER be forgotton, & for many the song........."He's
Blue..He's White...He's F*cking Dynamite....Paul Wright...Paul Wright"....
will live on forever!!
Bunion
Remembered!!
Playing Stats
(Appearances (sub)
Goals)
