KK Opts Out Of Killie Capt Role!
(Jan 24th 2010)

Kevin Kyle says he asked new manager Jimmy Calderwood to relieve him of the club captaincy.

Chairman Michael Johnston was angry at recent comments made by Kyle accusing Johnston of asking him to discuss former manager Jim Jefferies' tactics.

"I've sorted everything out with the chairman through the SPFA and I got a rap on the knuckles, I asked the manager to take the captaincy off me because I would rather get on with my game."

Kilmarnock imposed an undisclosed sanction on Kyle for newspaper interviews given to the The Sun newspaper.

Players' union chief executive Fraser Wishart negotiated with Johnston after a grievance procedure was taken out by the disgruntled Kyle.

Kyle had accused Johnston of "discreetly" asking him to discuss Jefferies' tactics and team selection.

The chairman described the report as "disruptive", but both parties are now satisfied with the outcome of negotiations and Kyle is keen to move on with his striking role at Kilmarnock.

"The story that came out about me and the club was a bit naive on my part,"

"The reporter phoned me and told me what was happening and put it to me that it might have been better if I put my side across, which I did.

"But, being 28, I should have known better and I said some honest things, which got me into trouble.

"But the chairman has sorted it with me and I've sorted it with him and we're moving on."

Kyle is out of contract with Kilmarnock in the summer and several clubs have demonstrated an interest in signing the former Coventry striker.

"At the minute, I would rather stay at Killie and do what I did last season," said Kyle.

"If they offer me a new contract and I'm happy with it, I'll stay - but, if things don't work out, I'll just see what happens.

"The past month or so has been a bit of a disaster and it's shown in my performances, but it's all sorted with the chairman now.

"I wanted to get back on the pitch and show the manager I deserve to be in the team. I asked him to take the captaincy off me - and he did.

"We've all just to get our sleeves rolled up and get things sorted out and get three points on a regular basis. If not, we need to make sure we don't lose any games."

MJ Speaks Out On KK's Press Quotes !
(Jan 9th 2010)

Killie Chairman Michael Johnston refutes discussing team tactics, with team capt Kevin Kyle which was reported in the press (the Sun) 2 days ago....

Michael Johnston said....."The question of tactics was raised by Kevin. If I wanted to talk tactics, I'd discuss it with the manager, It was a subject raised by Kevin. I telephoned him to invite him to a discussion about a press article which appeared in the Daily Record on 1 January in which he made some comments about internal matters relating to medical facilities. I also said it would be an opportunity to discuss his contract extension. 

"In the telephone conversation I asked Kevin about the match at St Mirren which we had lost 1-0 the previous day and he complained about a lack of service in the box.  The question of tactics was raised by him. I acknowledged his concern over tactics but I certainly didn't raise the subject and I didn't question him on it and I didn't ask him to a meeting to discuss tactics."

"I have to establish with Kevin if he has been accurately reported, If that is the case, there will be a disciplinary hearing. He is, on the face of it, in breach of his player contract. It is hugely disappointing when the team captain, who has been treated as a hero at Rugby Park, goes to the press with something like this.

"I don't think he realises how disruptive it is for the club, for the supporters and sponsors. I don't think he has thought through the consequences of his actions."

"Jim Jefferies will be seriously let down by all of this because he phoned Kevin Kyle on Thursday evening before this article in the Sun was published and instructed him to withdraw his comments because Jim recognised that this wasn't a good thing for the club," said the Rugby Park chairman.

"He has let down the manager and the club and it is a huge distraction for the players at a critical time of the season.  There is too much of Kilmarnock's affairs being paraded in the media. I don't know who is doing it or why but it's distracting and unprofessional and it has to stop."

"When Kevin joined us, initially he wanted only a six-month contract and I said 'no, it's an 18-month contract minimum'. He agreed to that and was very successful last season. He has been treated as a hero so we are keen to keep him.  I wanted to talk to him about an extension in the summer, and he wanted to wait until the turn of the year to see what his options were. He is clearly frustrated that he is not getting the opportunity to put himself in the shop window that he thought he would this season. There has been no interest in him whatsoever."

Jan 8th 2010 What The Scottish Sun Quoted Kevin Kyle as saying....

"The chairman said he wanted to talk to me about sorting out a new contract. But then he asked me about the boss and his tactics - and after that I felt a bit uncomfortable about going and sitting with him to discuss a contract. To be honest, I don't want to sit in the same room as him. He might end up talking about other things which don't have anything to do with me.  I just want to get on with playing football and keep out of things like this.

"If the chairman and the manager have a problem they need to sort it out. It's my job to win games for Kilmarnock.   Kilmarnock as a club gave me a contract, but it was the gaffer who signed me.  He is the man who brought me in and gave me the contract. I just felt that I owed him. As a footballer the game is one big world of gossip. I've had experiences when people have thought about signing me and it's been said 'That Kevin Kyle, his reputation goes before him'.

"I don't understand that because I like to think every manager who knows me and has worked with me won't have a bad word to say about me. If I went and spoke behind the gaffer's back that would've changed. People would have said 'Ah, Kevin Kyle, good footballer and will do a job for you, but he's an a******e behind your back - you need to watch out for him'.

"You don't want to be labelled with that.  That's why I thought I'd be honest about it. I told the gaffer when I could have kept it to myself.  It put me in a really awkward position. It's not like I'm trying to get one up on the chairman because that's not the case. The fact is Jim has done quite a bit for me.

"Whether the Killie fans love him or hate him he's the manager of the club and we should all be behind him.  I was disappointed with the chairman asking me what he asked me. If you ask any footballer, you always respect your manager no matter what. 

"I felt done in about it when the chairman asked me the question. He shouldn't have done it - it's inappropriate.

"I'm just a player, even though I am wearing the captain's armband.  I just want to get on with the job in hand, which is getting Kilmarnock out the mire. At the end of the day Jim put faith in me and got me going again. He got my career going and got me back into the Scotland team. We've all got opinions on team selections and tactics, but you never question that.

"It's the manager's job to pick the team and you respect that. When I told the gaffer he was disappointed. But I think he respected the fact I hadn't gone behind his back.  Listen, this might cause problems between me and the chairman and it might not. At the the end of the day I'm contracted until May 7 and this won't affect me.  I'll just keep on working hard in training and doing my best on the park. Hopefully my team-mates can all do the same.

"We're all aiming for the same thing and that's to keep Kilmarnock in the league. We want to go up rather than down.  Whether or not the chairman speaks to me, I'll not lose any sleep over that. 

"The club pays my wages and if he's got a big problem with that then he can do something about it - he's got the power.  But I don't want to be the guy who looks like he's causing trouble because I'm not. I'm just being honest. I'm sure most footballers would do what I did.

"At the end of the day you don't want to be snooping behind people's backs because it's more trouble than it's worth."

Who do you believe in this two sided affair?  Vote HERE

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