Eat Your Heart Out Karen Brady!

We have been aware of Klin Investment (Ltd) UK's interest in investing in Kilmarnock for some time now and have spoken on and off with Managing Director Marie Macklin and her husband Drew about what they would do if they ever purchased a controlling interest. We met the couple when they helped us out with the Killie 125 campaign so we are more than happy to give them a platform in return, especially as we know that the fact that they are even interested in investing much needed capital into KFC can only be beneficial to the club. Marie agreed to speak to us exclusively today because she appreciates that after hearing the news on the telly the fans will want to know the score, and where better to do it than the fan's no.1 website?

Why do Klin Investments want to buy into the Club?

Basically it's down to my dad's love for the club. he was invited onto the board in January but unfortunately he discovered at that time that he had Parkinson's disease and that prevented him from taking up that option. I have discussed it with my dad over the last six months and it has taken me that amount of time to come up with a positive financial package of investment for the Club.

So are you fans of the club?
We are fans of the club, dad has been a supporter for over 50 years now and down the line we have been heavily involved in sponsorship and using the clubs facilities for our business.

What do you think you can bring to the club that the current board does not?
I think I could bring some drive and enthusiasm allied to my business knowledge. I feel that the club requires to be totally re-marketed and re-branded as a top Premier League Club. Let's not forget that the club was fourth in the SPL last year and my aim is to better that and take Killie into the European market.

So you think the potential is there?
I think the potential is there. Everyone seems to think that a club getting money thrown at it means success, but that's just not happened to us. I believe that with good housekeeping and obviously some financial backing that Kilmarnock Football Club could become a major success story.

How do you see the fans getting involved?
Well tonight they are launching a supporters trust and I see that as important. Let's not forget that although the fan base is quite strong in Kilmarnock, it could be a lot stronger and my cry to the fans would be that if I gain control of the club there would be a place on the board for a representative from the Killie Trust.

"Only the brave and the faithful win in this game, and I want the brave and the faithful to play for my team"

What would happen with the Youth Academy plans?
Naturally I'm very disappointed with what has happened with the Youth Academy but never say never, things change all the time. I think that for Scottish football there is only one way forward and that is for clubs to rear their own talent and bring the stars of the future up through the ranks. I would be happy for the money we are going to put in to be spent positively, setting up a Youth Academy for Killie. Only the brave and the faithful win in this game, and I want the brave and the faithful to play for my team, and that's who I want to wear our shirts. I'll take a long hard look at Youth development at Kilmarnock because I want us to be producing the new David Beckhams and players of his calibre.

Marie talks a good game, but can she deliver? We think so. Although we will be eternally grateful to the Moffat family for their continued investment in Killie, Jamie stated publicly last week that there will be no further investment from them, so any fresh cash coming in must be seen in a positive light. We don't know how or even if a deal will ever be done, but as long as the club benefits out of negotiations in the long run then we'll be as happy as Larry. Marie has some top ideas to get things back on track and wants Killie to be back page news on a more regular basis. The current board have always been quick to recognise a good opportunity (season ticket deal anyone?) and hopefully they will see Klin's bid as a chance to take Killie to that ever elusive 'next level'. Whether they do, only time will tell, but if they think it's a good deal for the club then they'll buy into it - and Marie will buy into Kilmarnock.