| In
the seven weeks since taking over from Sir John Orr as Chairman of
the Club, there have been many points for discussion both on and
off the park.
The
Club has had to make some crucial decisions on our future playing
squad, including the transfer of Peter Canero, and the contract
terminations of Gregg Shields and Sean Hessey.
The
transfer of Peter Canero was one forced upon us due to the
vagaries of the transfer system. For the last 18 months we had
spoken to Peter and his Agent with a view to extending his
contract. Primarily as we saw him as playing a major part in our
future squad, and the fact that we were aware that once he reached
the age of 24 and was out of contract, he could move without the
Club receiving any fee to compensate for the investment we had
made in him since he joined us as a fifteen year-old.
In
December we offered him what we considered a good deal in the
current marketplace to secure his future as a Kilmarnock player
till 2007. The offer of a 60% increase in his basic salary was
rejected, and in line with transfer regulations he was able to
seek an alternative employer.
At
the same time the compensation rule for players up to 24 years of
age was blown out of the water by FIFA's judgment that Celtic
would receive no compensation for Colin Healey from Sunderland.
Given these circumstances, and the fact that Peter's options
included signing on a pre-contract agreement to a competitor with
no fee, the Club decided to accept an offer from Leicester City.
As part of the agreement Kilmarnock are bound by a confidentiality
clause which precludes us from disclosing the fee received, but it
is suffice to say that in the current climate it was a good piece
of business for KFC.
It
has been widely known for a considerable time that Gregg Shields
was unhappy by the day to day three hour round trip to training in
Kilmarnock. Despite several requests for Gregg to move to the
Kilmarnock area, he continued to live in Fife. Dunfermline had
approached us with an offer to take up a portion of Gregg's
contract with KFC having to pay a settlement fee. The Club refused
these advances but eventually when Gregg's unhappiness became
critical, and KFC's settlement fee was removed from the equation,
we allowed him to be released from his contact to join the Pars.
Sean
Hessey was advised in December that his contract would not be
renewed for next season, and by mutual agreement he left the Club
to seek a contract deal in England.
In
all these decisions the Club was guided by the expertise of Jim
Jefferies and David Mackinnon, and the wages released from these
contracts will be available by Jim to bring in players to meet our
wage structure built into our 3-year plan.
Hopefully
we can move within the transfer window to bring in players to
boost the squad after the recent disappointing results, which have
seen us slip down the table. Given that our aims are still to
achieve a top six finish and I'd ask for your support in cheering
on the team to that aim.
Off
the park there has been much debate on the cash position at
Kilmarnock Football Club, and I am delighted to announce that I
have given further support to the Bank of Scotland, which secures
our facilities over the next year. That security, aligned with the
good profit performance of the Park hotel, and the Big Match
re-launch, gives confidence that the ongoing future of KFC is a
positive one.
A
cup win against Rangers will add to that confidence and our bank
balance.
On
behalf of myself, the Board, and all at Kilmarnock Football Club,
I would like thank you for your support, and hope that to-gether
we can ensure a secure and successful future for this great Club.
Jamie
Moffat |
