JJ Gives Friendly Warning!

Killie boss advises the 12 players out of contract next year they might not all be as lucky as Andy McLaren if they refuse Killie's terms.

''I made Andy an offer, he refused it and look at the turmoil he went through because he thought he was going to walk into another club. Hibs probably wanted him but couldn't afford to give him a deal. He played at Falkirk and there was talk of him going to Carlisle and Ireland and, fortunately for him, Dundee United had a bit of money to spend and they gave him what he wanted.

''Good luck to him I was glad he got fixed up but that was a warning to other players they need to take a reality check.

''If we can't afford them, maybe no other club can.

''At the end of the season we'll make the players an offer. If they don't take it, I'll go out and get someone who will. It's as simple as that.''

''When we were not doing too well, I said to the players they had to snap out of it because they were playing for their futures.

''In an ideal world, I'd like to keep them all but it makes my job easier to argue with the board if we are successful.

''How high we are in the league will determine how many players we can keep and, to be fair, we've had a great response from them.''

"We managed to be successful last year and we managed to reduce the wage bill and we have got to do it again.

"So I understand what I have to do. It is a challenge and it looks good that I managed to be successful doing that last season. And that is what gives me the confidence that I can be successful again this year.

"We are working to average gates of six-and-a-half thousand and that is with us being fourth in the league. It is tough to do and that has got to be taken into consideration.

"The Klondyke days are over now though and players will have to come into line. Players will have to be offered reduced deals and it is up to them whether they stay or go. But you have to remember that some clubs can still pay decent money and maybe push the boat out a wee bit but we can't do that.

"It means you have to get value for money. It might be £600 per week instead of £1600 per week that I will be offering players and you might not get the same quality but there will be a lot of players available who will be delighted to get £600 per week. You have just got to make the right decisions."

"I am glad to hear that the club has alleviated all the fears of going into administration. But we are still running at a loss and we have still got to work within a budget.

"Dundee thought they were going to go upwards by bringing in Fabrizio Ravanelli and Craig Burley and you see what has happened there. It didn't materialise and now they find themselves in a difficult situation.

"So you have to work within your means because that is what can happen to you. It is nothing to do with Jim Duffy or the players and that is the sad part of it. So maybe it is a warning to other clubs. And it is good news that Kilmarnock are not in the same trouble."

Keeper Francois Dubourdeau has now signed with Killie until the end of the season, while striker Colin Nish and midfielder Rhian Dodds are expected to agree deals in the next few days.