Kenny Shiels Comments 2011

If it came out of Killie boss Kenny Shiels mouth then you'll find it here (if it was picked up by the press.)  Dates shown are dates reported ....

May 15th on the Gers Post-Match... "Rangers were worthy winners, without a doubt. They deserved to beat us. They had a big challenge coming here to win and they wiped the floor with us.  To be 3-0 up after seven minutes shows the character they have and they ripped us apart in that spell.  I didn't think 5-1 was the correct scoreline but Rangers deserved to win, without a shadow of a doubt."

May 13th on the Gers Pre-Match... "Our focus is based on having lost to them five times this season and not deservedly so, There are a few games we could have won.  Our focus is trying to recover some personal pride from that.  I feel we have been short-changed by Rangers this season and Sunday is an opportunity to redress the balance."

May 11th on the Well Post-Match... "I think it was a fantastic match.  People talk about restructuring the league and all these negative things. We've got this narrow-mindedness that the league's not good. With the population of Scotland it's unbelievable the quality of play that can be produced.  You would not see a game of football like that in England outside of the Premiership. In the Championship, League One and League Two, it's hump the ball, it's not attractive, it's not good to watch. Nine games out of 10 we are involved in are really entertaining.  We had a lot to play for tonight and we clinched fifth position, which is a terrific achievement.  Motherwell contributed to the game, they got it down and tried to play but they couldn't get the ball off us for long periods. I felt it was a thoroughly good match to watch." Match Report

May 10th on the Well Pre-Match..."Motherwell have been playing very well but they have rested players in recent weeks against Hearts, Rangers and Dundee United, But they will see this game as a chance to get their confidence back ahead of the Scottish Cup final. They also know that they have the chance to get fifth place so they will be going all out to beat us. But we will be ready for them and we will be going out with the best intentions of winning the game."
On the Rangers Sell-out... "I heard all the tickets were gone so it is going to be great for the people of Kilmarnock and for the Rangers fans. Every manager wants their players to play in as many big games as possible and this is a big game for the players to be involved in. We are always looking for challenges and there will be no better atmosphere than at Rugby Park on Sunday. The players have already played in front of big crowds at Parkhead and Ibrox, but of course having a full house at Kilmarnock is unusual. It will be a great occasion and we will be going all out to win the game."

May 8th on the Celtic Post-Match... "I couldn't ask for more from the players and they gave a good account of themselves, The players are giving as good as they're getting in every game - they can't give any more. Now Motherwell is a big game for us. If we can go there and get a good result we've clinched fifth position.  The first goal was always going to have a big influence in the outcome because there was so much tension from Celtic's perspective after their result at Inverness, Right up to that point it was a good, even game. We had posed a few problems for them. It was a bad time to concede. I told them at half-time they had matched Celtic. The work ethic was good and there were a lot of good performances out there. The supporters and the club want to get fifth place and then we can look forward to the Rangers game." Match Report

May 6th on the Celtic Pre-Match... "They've got great players. Whoever Neil brings in is going to be an international class player. That's something that we are fully aware of. Whoever comes in will be fresh and will want to play for the rest of the season and fight against Rangers."

Apr 30th on the Hearts Post-Match... "I thought it was entertaining, it was a spectacle that people would want to come back and watch more of. In terms of the outcome, we thoroughly deserved to win, I don't think anyone can argue with that. We played with expression, imagination, invention, all of those things were evident. We dominated the ball, for the second half especially.  We got the tempo up at half-time, got our defenders forward more. It was like the Alamo at times, it was like our training when we play in one half of the pitch and formulate our attack. But all of a sudden we were 2-1 down. The first goal was a wicked deflection and we have lost another goal from a corner, I wasn't happy with that. We brought our subs on, stretched them a bit. We've been hard done by, but there was plenty of incident, action and excitement. I don't think the game merited eight bookings, I'm not being critical of the referee." Match Report

Apr 28th on Signings For Next Term... "I'm working to improve the team, It's frightening the amount of contacts I have, having worked in England and Europe and now in Scotland. We have a trial match next week and quite a few players are coming in for that. I'm going to watch a game in Europe on Sunday. I'm preparing for next season in anticipation of getting the job. That's not being arrogant, that's being logical in doing my work for the club. I have got big, big plans for the club next season. I have already spoken to quite a few players who are considering us, they want to come to Kilmarnock, really good players by the way. Hopefully if I can get the job then I start to activate that. Other managers are in the same boat as me in terms of players re-signing, The only difference is we haven't got a manager, we have a caretaker manager. That poses a few problems but none that can't be overcome. I'm getting positive feedback from the players, they want me here and I want to be here. I have spoken to all of the players who are coming out of contract and I'm very keen to get them re-signed.  I feel that if I was appointed manager then players would be put in a position where they haven't got an excuse, People will use that as a leverage not to re-sign to buy them more time for potential suitors. The other side of it is there are players who genuinely feel uncertain. It's down to the club, they are my employers and I'm not in a position to say the manager should be appointed,"

Apr 24th on Getting the Killie Boss Job Permanently ... "I can understand people putting two and two together and getting five, but I feel I am the right person for this job, I have never felt more about that than I have done for today. I feel I can get the players prepared properly, tactically and physically. Since the previous manager left, we have had nothing but players going out injured, It has been like a domino effect where players have gone down and we've had to patch up the team. We lost Frazer Wright, we lost Mehdi Taouil, we lost Sissoko, we lost O'Leary again today and now we've lost Bryson. These things happen in football, you get them in periods. We have just been very unfortunate and we don't have the depth to sustain that at the moment. Because I am after the job, I have to be totally honest and say that there's probably an added pressure on me to get results and I accept that, But I would hope that I'm not judged on the situations and the circumstances that have happened. These are not excuses, they are reasons and the boys in the dressing-room know that. We are not feeling sorry for oursleves, but I am really excited about getting the job and I am confident that it will be viewed from that perspective that there has been a lot of circumstantial happenings. I am excited because, from what I've seen when we made the changes again, we are looking forward to our next game. It has been like a domino effect where players have gone down and we've had to patch up the team and played tough opponents like Celtic and Dundee United."

Apr 23rd on the Arabs Post-Match... "Dundee United and Celtic are the form teams of 2011. They have Conway, Swanson and Goodwillie firing on all cylinders, while our squad is quite depleted at the moment. The two goals we conceded in the first half were poor in terms of people not doing their jobs at set-pieces. We spoke about it in no uncertain terms at half-time. I thought we had eliminated that but then we got caught in possession in our own half for the third and then Conway scores a fantastic goal. However, I felt after that we dominated and we looked very dangerous every time we went forward.  Had the game been a little bit longer we could have possibly got something but that's clutching at straws. The best team won today." Match Report

Apr 22nd on the Arabs Pre-Match... "Being realistic, yes, we have to win, If you go there and get a point, you are still five behind. Taking five points [more than United] from your last four games is a big ask. If we go there and get beaten, obviously that's it, but I feel we can go there and produce a positive outcome. I'd like to get the win for the club and put us in a better position as we strive to try and get fourth place, If we win on Saturday, we are still in fifth but we'll be better poised going into the Hearts game."

Apr 20th on the Celtic Post-Match... "They were at a different level to us, No question about it. You have to reflect and say that when a team is playing at a different tempo and moving the ball about so well, that Celtic were good. They were really good. They get the early goal then their tails are up and they're oozing confidence and playing with panache.  I felt that we played in patches and tried to distribute the ball but we didn't penetrate very much,. We were up against it and there were parts that we spoke about in the dressing room where we feel we should have done better. We gave the ball away cheaply in our own half of the pitch for two of the goals, so we have to deal with the ball better. There were a few positive things. I know a 4-0 scoreline doesn't suggest that. We saw a bit of character from some of them when we had to dig in.  If I make comparisons to this game and the one at Parkhead earlier this season when we got a point, there was a lot of this game when we were better. At Parkhead Celtic tore us apart and created so many chances. Tonight they converted those chances."  Match Report

Apr 19th on the Celtic Pre-Match... "I think it's fair to say, at this moment in time, that Celtic are the best team in Scotland. I like the way Neil Lennon works because he signs players who he feels will fit a system where they can entertain.  If you look at Kayal and Izaguirre, they are entertaining footballers. They are not the run-of-the-mill, hard-working and all that kind of stuff. They can entertain. They express themselves on the ball. They are a great team to watch and Neil deserves a lot of credit for that because you can see what he has done. Celtic are traditionally a really good footballing team and, one thing is for sure, I would like to think our game against Celtic will be a good game of football and the entertainment value will be very high."

Apr 9th on the Caley Post-Match...  "I thought it was a good performance but we didn't get the result, and it's two points dropped at home in a part of the season when we're going for fourth position. That was borne out in the evidence in our performance, as we attacked and it was an open game. We missed a few chances and were a bit blunt up front - we haven't really replaced Conor Sammon if we're honest about it. However, the boys worked hard and we couldn't get much more out of the players than we got today."  Match Report

Apr 8th on the Caley Pre-Match..."It's a new chapter for the club, it's about the players and supporters and the staff behind the scenes. The performance of the players is the be-all and end-all, how they respond to the coaching and the training and the environment they are working and playing in. I am speaking to the chairman on a daily basis and just reporting back on how things are developing on the playing side of the club and referring stuff back to him. I want to try and get the attention focused

Apr 2nd on the Saints Post-Match...  "The first thing we have to look at is that it's been a fantastic season and we've made the top six. It's a really big achievement from what our plans and our purpose was at the start of the season. We were going to consolidate but now that we've made the top six it's a great feeling for the lads. There were contributing factors (in the performance), mainly enhanced because it was so late in the week. Mixu and I had prepared the team up to the Thursday - how we were going to play and what the team was.  But Mixu's away and it had an adverse effect on them, because I felt from the first whistle they were apprehensive in their movements and their passing, and their normal flare and the invention they play with just wasn't there today.  I'm interested in the job but I feel that we can't get sidetracked."  Match Report

Apr 1st on His Background & Aspirations... "I have 14 years managerial experience and my achievements have been good. I took two provincial clubs - Ballymena and Coleraine - into European competition. But it wouldn't be fair of me to tell the club what they should do now that Mixu's gone. I'm just grateful for the chance to take over on a caretaker basis and I want to do so in a manner which impresses the club. I'd like the job and I genuinely feel it would be in the club's best interests if I got it. My philosophy on the game runs on parallel lines to Mixu's and he did a great job taking a club from the threat of relegation to the promise of a top-four finish and a Europa League spot."

Mar 31st 2011 Shiels on Taking Over For Mixu Paatelainen... ""It would be a logical step for the club to keep the same philosophy of how we play and how we try and look at our planning short term, long term and medium term.  I'm not saying if you take me out of the equation, it's not going to continue, but I feel as if my relationship with the players and my philosophy on how we play, are two contributing factors."

Mixu Paatelainen Comments 2010-11

May 2011 SPL Manager of the Year

In May 2011 the SPL recognised Paatelainen's efforts by naming him 2010-11 SPL Manager of the Year.

Apr 4th Mixu Says Goodbye... "The time I had at Kilmarnock FC was truly enjoyable for me. Unfortunately, it was cut short by an opportunity I could not turn down. Hopefully everyone understands my decision to leave and fulfil one of my dreams of managing my country. I thanked them for the season and wished them all the best. It was just to say my farewells. There were no tears thankfully, but it wasn't easy. The boys are great and they have done it.  I told them they deserve the credit because they have done the job on the pitch. I was desperate to go to the St Johnstone game but I decided it was better that I didn't go. I wanted to stay away so all the focus would be on the game. Also, it would have been strange for me to sit in the stand not having spoken to the players beforehand. I was nervous at home and was watching Sky Sports and BBC waiting for the result to come in. I didn't have any say in the match and because of that I felt a bit apprehensive. I was pleased they achieved the draw playing at a very difficult place. I will go to Rugby Park when I can hoping they can do well.  The opportunity to manage my country was just too good to turn down. At the same time, I am sad because this season has been so enjoyable. From the chairman down, they made it so easy to work. That style of play was always the aim and we established it straight away when we went to Ibrox on the first day of the season. It's a very difficult place to go to but we passed the ball and didn't want to lump the ball forward, which is the easy option. We wanted to keep the ball on the deck but it took a while to get going until we beat Hearts 3-0 at Tynecastle in October. That was the first of many fantastic results. It took two to three months to bed that idea in and have everyone comfortable with their roles. You have to be either stupid or brave to play that way. Take your pick. It is a risk at the beginning because the players are not used to it. You do make mistakes and we have been punished for the mistakes we have made because we tried to play from the back. I believe that whatever you learn, you will always make mistakes but the more you practise the less mistakes you make. It is the same in football.The players have applied themselves and what they have done on the pitch is unbelievable. Our target was to survive in the SPL and I wanted to do it comfortably. To qualify for the top six makes me very proud. It's an unbelievable achievement for the players."

Apr 1st on Taking the Finnish Job... "This is a dream come true. I have been working towards this for a long time now. It's really brilliant to get a challenge like this.  I was called at the beginning of February and asked if I was interested in the job. I gave a positive answer and the Finnish Football Association approached Kilmarnock to seek permission to make their move. That's how we slowly proceeded to the stage where the final touches could be put to the deal."

Mar 31st 2011: Mixu Paatelainen resigned from Killie to take the Finland National Team job. Chairman Michael Johnston then named his assistant Kenny Shiels as first team boss thru the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Johnston said.... "Seldom can a manager have achieved legendary status in eight months and the fans slogan "in Mixu we trust" says it all."   Mixu left Kilmarnock with the club sitting fifth in the SPL, and a first top 6 SPL finish in 4 seasons. Manager History - Here

Mar 28th on Maybe the Finnish National Team Job...  "People are making assumptions that I'm leaving Kilmarnock because I told Scunthorpe they wouldn't be my next stop. But that's all it is. The Finnish FA will make their decision on who they want as their new coach in due course.  Before they make their mind up, I don't have anything to say about Finland. Until they make their move, I will carry on and go ahead with my job at Kilmarnock. At the moment, they haven't decided who they want to go for. I'm happy at Kilmarnock and I'll be delighted if I'm still here at the end of the season and beyond. Everything is going well. We've had a good season and I have a fantastic relationship with the chairman. Everything is spot on at the club and we're in talks about a new contract so we'll see how things develop. Of course, it's an honour to play for your country and it's an even greater honour to be manager.  If that was ever a possibility for me, obviously I'd have to give it serious consideration."

Mar 27th on Knocking Back Scunthorpe Utd...  “I had the chance to go down and speak to Scunthorpe but I came to the conclusion it is not for me.  I have made myself clear to them so I will stay at Kilmarnock. The club has been willing to sit down and talk about a longer contract which is great but we haven’t come to an agreement yet, so we will see how that pans out. The Finnish FA will make up their decision in due course so I really don’t know any more about that.”

Mar 23rd on More Budget Cuts For Next Term... “We need to reduce our debt. There is going to be a cut in my playing budget no matter how high up the table we finish.  We’ve done well so far this season and we want to keep it going because it will help the club. We need to look at expenditure very carefully and try to whittle down the debt. That’s why it was important Conor Sammon was sold. Selling him was the right thing to do because the health of the club is more important than who is in my team. I want us to be as competitive as possible but that won’t matter if there is no club or if we’re really struggling financially. There will be other players sold in the future as well and I quite welcome that because it shows we’re doing something right. It will show others we can improve players, develop them and get the best out of them.  The world is full of players but we don’t have a scouting system and, in fact, we don’t have any scouts,  What we have is one man who does reports for me on the teams we are about to play. Other than that I have to rely on my contacts and seeing players for myself.”

Mar 19th on the Well Post-match... " I enjoyed the second half and so did the fans, I hope. I'm delighted. Three points, that's what we were after. We kept the ball under control, we passed it from man to man, we had good movement, And we defended well. They feel comfortable out there. If you have that security and peace of mind then you relax a bit and your passes are better weighted and your movement is a little bit sharper and earlier and that's what happened in the second half.  Alexei is a playmaker and a half. Jamie has energy and willingness to get up there. All in all, I don't think we had a weak link out there on the pitch. Everybody played their part and did well. I think we're very close, to the top 6 now. We have at least one foot in it now"  Match Report 

Mar 18th on the Well Pre-match..."We are fighting for a top-six spot  But it is nowhere near done and dusted.  People say that it is obvious that Kilmarnock will be there but its not.  We do respect teams below us immensely and we know that they can put a few victories together and if we don't put the foot on the pedal, to make sure we win enough, we won't be there. United were always going to be there, They have have a fantastic squad, they were third last season and won the cup so they are a quality team. I always expected them to possibly overtake us. Motherwell could do the same. They also have a quality squad and have fantastic attacking options but we are fighting our corner, as always.  If we can qualify for the top six; if we are sixth, fifth or fourth or whatever, it would be an unbelievable achievement.  We have achieved our goal of survival so why not go for the top six and be positive?  But Motherwell have just beaten Celtic and got a draw against Dundee United in the cup and there is every chance they will go through in that tie so we will have to be on our toes."

Mar 16th on Cammy Bell's Situation... "Somebody said I had confirmed that I had frozen out Cammy Bell because he hasn't signed a new contract and that is total and utter nonsense,  In my mind, the best team plays, the team that gives us the best chance to win the match.  So I don't just look at one player in the squad, I look at everybody. I want to be fair and I made the decision that Anssi played, as simple as that - not because of Cammy's contract situation, not because of Anssi's situation or anybody's situation.  Cammy is training and fighting for his place,  I have spoken to him about the contract situation. I don't know where we are, but we will see how things develop. But I hope to keep him. Cammy is a good goalkeeper, there is no question.  He has done really well this season, but we have a bit of luxury because we have three very good goalkeepers."

Mar 13th on the Rangers Post-match...  "I thought it was a great game, We passed the ball well and I thought we dominated the midfield thoroughly. With the first goal there was a lack of communication and we lost the ball a little too easily. They're a quality side with quality individuals and if you're not organised and solid, or don't communicate then they'll punish you. We got a goal back and changed it a little bit in the second half and I thought our second-half performance was excellent. It's so, so disappointing for the players to lose that goal in the end. It's a pity because our performance didn't merit a defeat. I'm disappointed we didn't take anything from the game because we thoroughly deserved that, They were a little bit fortunate in the end to get that winner but good teams are fortunate."   Match Report 

Mar 11th on the Rangers Pre-match..."We face Rangers, who are the champions and an excellent team. Whether they have players missing or not, they'll be first class, they'll be out there to show their quality against us and we'll face a very, very difficult task of taking anything from the game. It's never easy to go to Ibrox and play well and beat them, but that's what we have to do in order to get that kind of result. They're a quality team and always turn out with real style. They don't get beat too often. We saw that in early January in the Cup game - the way they played they were absolutely tremendous and fully deserved their victory. So we do realise how difficult this match is and that's why we approach it in a serious manner."

Mar 5th on the Hearts Post-match... "I'm delighted, The way we defended, we didn't allow Hearts any room at all. The boys had real togetherness and organisation. They took the stuff from the training ground out on the pitch and executed it magnificently. First half, I thought, when we attacked, we gave the ball away needlessly. Second half, we wanted to keep the ball better and we scored two goals, fantastic attacking moves. Both of those goals were great moves, good passing moves and good finishes. We're not in the top six yet, This is a very important victory towards that. We want to keep fighting and hopefully qualify for the top six. That would be a fantastic achievement. And then, if we qualify there, we'll try and finish as high up as possible. We do realise that we're playing against very, very good opponents week in, week out and matches are very difficult." Match Report 

Mar 3rd on Taouil's Injury... "He has been excellent for us, so it's very unfortunate. When you look at the goals he's actually assisted this season, there have been quite a few. He's been a very important figure in our midfield. The emphasis has been on Alexei Eremenko and his performances, but Mehdi Taouil beside him has done really well in midfield, He's an individual - there's no hiding from that - but he also contributes and makes those telling passes and creates goals for us. So he's a big loss to us, but that's where the squad comes into play and another player gets a chance."
On the Hearts Pre-Match... "I think it is almost impossible to catch them because of their quality, They will challenge the Old Firm all the way, if they don't catch them they will be comfortably third. I'm sure that is their target for the season and it is looking very likely that they will achieve that. We are battling for a top-six spot. It is very tight. A couple of wins, a couple of defeats and everything changes very quickly. I believe it will be a dogfight all the way to the split. But it would be a wonderful achievement for us to finish in the top six."

Feb 26th on the Buddies Post-match..."The first half was so pleasing to see how we reacted to last week, We showed real desire to do well. We were really, really sharp. The second half we expected them to come back and they did, but we defended well. It's never easy. One or two players came back in the dressing room disappointed with their second-half performances. But St Mirren and Hamilton, they might be lower in the league, but they are good teams with good players and will put you under pressure. William Gros did well, Not only his goal, but his link-up play was excellent, really decisive. He has good technique and is a good finisher and he's not slow either."  Match Report 

Feb 25th on the Buddies Pre-match... “It will be difficult for us to pass the ball the way we want as St Mirren will be closing us down. Their players are full of spirit and fight for their team. We have been in fourth postion for some time, Who would have anticipated that we would be sitting above quality teams like Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Motherwell and St Johnstone in the lead up to the split? Realistically, we need to fight to do our best and see where we are at the end of the season. Saturday is an important game. I hope we perform much better with a big home crowd behind us.”

Feb 19th on the Dons Post-Match... "It was a tough match and Aberdeen worked very hard, The mistakes we made were ridiculous and it was one of those days where nothing went for us. I actually thought we started the game very well but then we made mistake after mistake. If you make crucial mistakes at this level you will get punished. We can't use the conditions as an excuse. We shouldn't have made mistakes like that and it was nothing to do with the wind or the surface."
Paatelainen felt Dons defender Zander Diamond should have seen red when, with the score goalless, he tripped Kieran Agard "I thought it was a goalscoring opportunity as all he had to do was tap the ball into the net. A tap-in does not have to be from two yards, it was a side-foot tap-in from the edge of the box, the goal was empty and if he got to the ball first it was an easy goal. For me it was a goalscoring opportunity but I don't want to say any more than that on it." Match Report 

Feb 18th on the Dons Pre-Match... “Aberdeen are a lively and spirited team. Their form has picked up under the new management. I will be looking to go and have a good enough performance to get the three points. They (Craig Brown and assistant Archie Knox) are fantastic and they are really showing their experience and organisational skills. Their teams are always hard to beat and don't concede too many goals. It will be a difficult game for us. If we want to score against them, we will need to do something special."

Feb 12th on the Hibs Post-Match... "The two goals we conceded today we should never have conceded. In my opinion the first one is a clear foul on Pascali and the second one is never a penalty. But what does it count for? It counts for nothing. The referee made those decisions and we need to go along with it. These refereeing decisions - let's not go into those too much. There are plenty of incidents there - let's just concentrate on the match and how it went. Yes, the goals are important and I felt those two goals we never should have conceded. I said to the boys in the dressing room that unfortunately the decisions went against us but with the way we put ourselves about and applied ourselves, I'm pleased. We have come forward so much this season and we carry on. The way we passed the ball was pleasing, the first half especially. I thought it was fantastic. The whole midfield passed the ball well and we dominated totally."  Match Report

Feb 10th on Bryson Adding To His Scotland Cap Tally..."He was playing fantastically well before the injury, He was absolutely flying, he was scoring goals and he was playing well. He was assisting goals and everything was there defensively. They were real all-round performances in midfield. It was a pity he got the injury but I'm sure the opportunity to perform at Scotland level again will hopefully come for him because he deserves it.  There was a lot of interest in him, Clubs were lurking around the corners and looking at him. If he was fit, possibly he might have moved on. His time will come, there is no question about it. If he keeps applying himself as he does, putting the effort in and playing as well as he has done, I can see him moving on and playing on the big stage one day. He's a great player and a great guy who always gives us 100% and he's a pleasure to work with."
On Replacing striker Conor Sammon ... "There is nothing to say at the moment. We always look at players, whether the window is open or closed. That's the situation at the moment as well but there is nothing to announce."

Feb 2nd on the Well Post-Match... "I didn't think we were a one-man team before he left. Conor is a striker who has tremendous pace and all that but Rui Miguel has attributes and he was unfortunate not to score. The boys didn't play their best but it was good enough to win. I thought it was a big win psychologically because of the top-six situation and how we have conceded late goals recently. We never got our passing going, possibly because of the conditions, but the win was all down to us being positive.
On Hay's Red Card... "I thought it was a bit hard. The referee said it was cynical but I thought it was worth only a yellow card. They have their guidelines and rules but I do hope people look at it and hopefully it is overturned. If it is a red card every time a player commits a foul like that then teams would end up with five players each." Match Report

Jan 29th on the Accies Post-Match... "It was very, very unfortunate and, in my view, wrong that Jamie Hamill was sent off. He never caught him, he pulled out of it. I don't want to go accusing anybody of anything but if we see these kind of things out there, there is every chance the game is killed and one team just defends and doesn't attack. There was a big danger that this game could have been a very dull match. If somebody tries to con people like that and people are sent off because of that, it can kill the game. Hamill was very, very unfortunate to be sent off, that's all I'm saying. I don't need to discipline him. For me, it was nothing but I don't want to dwell on it. It didn't turn the game. Before the sending off we were fantastic and after the sending off we were fantastic. We created so many chances and we should have killed the game off well before the final minutes. I was so pleased with the boys' performance today and I really want to congratulate the players. I'm just gutted for the players that we lost a late goal like that."
On the Sammon Latest..."I don't know the latest, I really don't. I've not spoken to the chairman yet. I think there were quite a few clubs here watching him." Match Report

Contract....  "He is listed on many websites as a striker, but he will be a midfielder for us. He is a strong player, technically gifted with relative pace and I hope he will improve while with us. He can play up front, but he is not usually a striker, My contacts told me that the player was available, I had a look at him and I liked what I saw. He can play various positions and I think he will be a good addition to the squad. If we lose any players, we would look to replace them, although we are limited with the wages we can offer,"
On the Latest Sammon Transfer News... "There have not been any more bids for Conor, there has been plenty of interest but there's nothing concrete at the moment. If something happens on deadline day then that leaves us with very little time to strengthen.The longer it goes the more difficult it us for accept anything. If there are clubs interested in our players then basically they have to move now so I've got a few days to get someone in. I don't know if Conor will move on, I can't legislate for what other people will do."

Jan 22nd on the Arabs Post-Match... "I was disappointed to see Eremenko red-carded, but the referee said that he retaliated - that should never happen as playmakers get tackled and people try to upset them and their rhythm, but the player should never retaliate and we don't tolerate that. It's a great boost for Conor to score again and hopefully he'll keep doing that.  We had chances to kill the game off but didn't, and then Dundee United got a goal from 45 yards which our goalkeeper watched go in the net. There was plenty of power in the shot and probably movement in the ball and bodies in the way, but when somebody has a shot from that distance, I think the goalkeeper should save. The way we played in the first half was tremendous and I felt that the boys were right up for it, scored a good goal and looked really comfortable. Being disappointed with the draw shows how far we've come. We mustn't forget what a good team Dundee United are, they're a top-six team in my book, and I'm so pleased with the way we played, our spirit and how the players applied themselves."  Match Report

Jan 21st on the Arabs Pre-Match... "Dundee United are a good team. They have been together so long.  Craig Levein did a fantastic job then Peter Houston carried on along the same lines after being No.2. It was a smart thing for their chairman to bring in Housty. They won the Cup and were third in the league. This season they have quite a few matches in hand and if they win all of those they overtake us. Housty has made a mark of his own but not too much from when he was working with Craig. I'm sure he's had one or two little tweaks here and there. United were very successful last season and I'm sure they will be successful again this season."
On Sammon Turning Down Scunthorpe... "It's a great boost that he's still here. Any team that wants to be successful needs goal scorers. Conor has hit 16 goals already, more or less halfway through the season. When he came back from Scunthorpe I told him it was a surprising decision. He said he felt everything was great here and just felt it wasn't right to leave.  Conor has everything a striker wants. He's a good size and has presence, he's a strong boy. He's quick, is good in the air and has shown what a good finisher he is. He has good temperament, works hard, listens and he takes information on board in matches. What more can you ask?  His technique is good if he keeps his composure. So, YES!"
On Cameron Bell... "Every player makes mistakes and if a keeper makes a mistake it's usually a goal. Cammy has been fantastic for us this season so there's nothing to worry about. He was the first to say after the match it was his fault but I think the chances of keeping him are good. We're pretty close. He's ambitious and wants to forward his career but he also realises he has established himself here as No.1. He enjoys that, loves it, and it motivates him.  So he wants to stay here and be No.1 - all things are positive."

Jan 18th on the Hearts Post-Match...  "I thought we were very unfortunate to lose the game, One or two of our players started chasing the game and lost their patience and position and if you do that you will be punished. But I am delighted to still have Conor. He's a goalscorer but I didn't think he was right to start the match because of the travelling. He came on and had a couple of chances late on but unfortunately didn't score. I don't have any fears about other clubs coming in, it can happen or it might not. I can't legislate for what other clubs do. There might be offers and if there are we might consider them."  Match Report

Jan 17th on Sammon Leaving... "We'll soldier on and try to make sure that if players leave I bring in players who can do the job, if not as well, close to it. I'm not confident but I'll try my best as always. Obviously there will be money coming in but we won't be in a position to pay a transfer fee. The chairman has told me that if Conor goes, we will need to replace him. We're working on that in case it happens. Hopefully the chairman allows me to strengthen other areas as well. We haven't discussed that yet but the chairman has always said if there are players out there who will make us better and are within our budget, then we should make a move."

Jan 15th on the Saints Post-Match... "The first half was absolutely first class, a really high standard of football - I was so happy with the way we played, moved, passed and caused problems. We scored a fabulous goal which was good moving and good thinking, but unfortunately in the second half we stopped doing the right stuff. They [St Johnstone] had a say in it as they started aggressively and being very physical. They tried to upset our rhythm but our players need to be a bit tougher and to stand up for themselves and be counted. We must make sure we keep focus and keep passing and moving, but unfortunately we stopped doing that and they got the equaliser. I'm disappointed as I felt that by half-time we should have had that game won. Conor Sammon was one-on-one and Peter Enckelman made a very good save, and I feel that on the first-half performance, we should have scored more than one goal."
On Sammon Moving to Scunthorpe... "There's been contact from Scunthorpe and it's more or less agreed by the clubs - it's down to Conor whether anything happens. At this moment in time we don't know whether he goes or not. I haven't been in touch with our chairman today. I'll have a private chat with Conor and, if he asks my opinion, I'll talk to him. "If he goes, he would be a massive loss, as somebody who's scored 16 goals in half a season is a great tally." Match Report

Jan 11th on Signing Full Back Billy Berntsson... “It’s done and dusted, the international clearance is through. It’s pleasing to get him in. It’s very important we are covered for all positions and Billy can play both full-back positions. Billy is very competitive, he’s very positive and he has a lot of attributes. He’s played in the top league in Sweden and I’m looking forward to working with him. We had him over here for a couple of weeks but it was a bad period with the weather, so we couldn’t train too much but we’re delighted to get him.”

Jan 10th on the Rangers Post-Match... "I'm disappointed we lost the game. I looked forward to this game and hoped we would play well and win the match and stay in the cup. Rangers played well, worked hard, and scored three goals, which I felt we should have avoided. It was disappointing but I saw how hard Rangers worked and they were hungry to win. It was a tough draw, it's never easy to come to Ibrox, and it's disappointing to go out the cup early but Rangers are a fantastic team. Now we concentrate on the league."
On Bryson's injury..."We don't know the full extent of his injury yet but hopefully it's nothing too severe. He will have a scan. It's too early to say."

Jan 9th on Transfer Speculation Surrounding Craig Bryson... "Players can leave if the offer is acceptable. If a club meets our valuation they could be transferred. That is the case with every Kilmarnock player and Craig Bryson is in that bracket as well. I would not be surprised if there was a bid for Craig in January. He has improved immensely as a player over the last few months."

Jan 8th on the Rangers Pre-Match..."We have played against them many times already and I think the matches have been pretty even and I think this one will be very similar, The last time we played against them, it was a good performance. But we made stupid errors and lost the match. We should have done better in that game. It's gone now, we have learned from those mistakes, and now we are looking forward to Monday. I'm quietly confident but I'm not overly confident. I do know that we are the underdogs and they are the team who should win the match.But you never know on the day, that's cup football and hopefully there is a surprise on the cards. They are a quality team, there is no question. They lost the Old Firm game to Celtic and they will be eager to bounce back. Hopefully we can defend well and stop their chances to score goals.They will be very dangerous and will start the match on fire but we must stand firm and keep a clean sheet and take it from there. The cup is very important for financial reasons and, whatever competition we enter, we want to do as well as we can. Every time we go out and play, we want to win. We want to be positive and if we can entertain at the same time, as we have been doing recently, great.First and foremost, we want to win and progress but we do realise we are playing against Rangers, who are a fantastic team. They will do everything to knock us out and carry on but hopefully we can have a say otherwise."

Jan 3rd on the Buddies Post-Match... "I'm delighted, St Mirren are a spirited team. They have plenty energy and strikers who can cause you damage. We love this place because it is a big playing surface and it's in good nick and you can pass the ball and move and I think we passed the ball reasonably well today. But I think we have played better. I don't think we exploited their back three enough. It's all about movement: if there's movement up front, then you can pass the ball; if there's not, it's very difficult. We scored two great goals from midfielders - Kelly and Bryson. The first goal was great, the free-kick taken wide, a good ball in and an easy tap-in for Kelly - but you need to be there."
On Replacing Ben Gordon ..."We have players who can come in and do a job for us and we'll get players in who know exactly what to do, With players leaving, we want to make sure that our squad is competitive and all the positions are well covered. All the time we are looking to improve our squad - it never stops."  Match Report

Dec 29th on the Caley Post-Match... "There's been speculation about one or two of the players at Kilmarnock, so if we lose them and they decide to move on then I think the work will have been done by us in terms of making them better players, Obviously, I would look to keep my better players because we want to maintain the progress we are making, but that is the nature of football. Players come and players go. Should that happen then we would look to bring in more players and look to develop them as well." Match Report

Dec 27th on Killie's Goalkeeping Crisis... "We don't have a goalkeeper at this moment as Cammy and Kyle both have stomach bugs. So I don't know if we'll have two keepers or any keepers for Wednesday against Inverness, we will just have to wait and see.  We hope it is just a 24-hour or maximum a 48-hour stomach bug and then they will be clear before the match. For training today we have no keepers. It is not ideal preparation before a game but what can you do? We'd have to play one of our youngsters if the worst comes to the worst. Cammy trained on Sunday but Kyle didn't and now Cammy is affected."
On Striker Harry Forrester, (who picked up an ankle injury in training) ... "Harry has strained ankle ligaments but hopefully it will just be one game he misses."
On Chelsea loan star Ben Gordon.... "Chelsea haven't made their minds up yet. Ben's loan ends on January 15 so hopefully we will know the first week in January. Ben wants to stay and hopefully we will be getting some good news."

Dec 21st on the Celtic Post-Match...  "I'm disappointed. Football is a funny game. I think this was probably the worst we have played in terms of passing the ball. The first half was horrendous. All credit to Celtic because they put us under pressure but we should have done better in possession. The second half was better and we scored a goal from a good counter-attack. We defended solidly after that and Celtic couldn't get anywhere. But we lost a goal from a set-piece where there was poor man-marking. It was very disappointing. I felt we should have won in the end. Not because of the way we played but because we had a lead. We should have defended better at their goal. In my mind, we should have held on. But it shows how dangerous we are that we scored a goal despite playing like that." Match Report

Dec 20th on the Celtic Pre-Match... "I don't know about it being our best chance but we will be positive, We do realise Celtic are a quality team. They have stars everywhere in their side, they can score goals and they can defend solidly. But, as long as we have the right mentality, then we have a chance.
On Extending The Season... "If something like that was necessary, then okay, it can be done. Hopefully it won't be done. But, if the weather conditions are so bad that the matches really have to be called off and that's the only option, we should take it. If there is more snow every day and freezing temperatures, that will cause problems. But I think we should be a little bit tougher as well when it comes to calling games off. I don't think we should be willing to call matches off too easily. Do we call off Christmas shopping when the pavements are icy? I don't think so. I do appreciate that you need to think about supporters' safety and travelling on the motorways and travelling conditions but I don't think the matches should be called off too easily."

Dec 18th on the Hibs Post-Match..."I was pleased with the way we played in the first half. We started really well, passed the ball well. I felt the slippy conditions with the ball skidding across the surface helped us pass the ball around. We scored two excellent goals, passing moves with plenty of positive runs. It was good composure from wide areas to find the player and good composed finishes. Liam Kelly has just signed a new contract and maybe that was a thank-you.
Paatelainen on the two assists from Gordon..."It's something we pay attention to, when we get into crossing positions to actually find a player rather than just putting it into an area, Ben is an excellent young full-back who works very hard and causes teams problems." Match Report

Dec 17th on the Hibs Pre-Match... "We play Hibs now and we're looking forward to it. They have had a bit of consistency in selection the last few matches they played. That's always good for any side. I suspect they will be pretty happy with the players who are performing, they got a fantastic win against Rangers and beat Motherwell, so they can beat anybody."
On Liam Kelly's New Deal...  "We're happy he has signed because he's a young, talented player who works very hard, He is a model professional and has every chance in the game. He is a hard-working box-to-box midfielder who can score goals and is good at defending. We are close to coming to an agreement with one or two other players but nothing to say yet We are also talking to a goalkeeper and very close to agreeing terms with him, just looking ahead to the future and trying to strengthen us for next season.  I'm hoping to strengthen, Our budget is almost full but maybe with a little wheeling and dealing we are able to do something. I would like to strengthen one or two areas but we will have to see."

Dec 11th on the Celtic Postponement... "It's a good question to ask whether we are now too sensitive. I think it's too early to call it off. I can understand if a game is called off in Inverness or somewhere. But the forecast is in favour of a match being played. To see the game off leaves me disappointed. I understood last week's matches being called off early because the forecast was severe with frost and snow. But things are getting better. I don't think our supporters have too far to travel to Glasgow. I think the roads would be fine on Saturday, so why not leave it until Saturday morning? Or if you want to go before Saturday, Friday evening. It's frustrating, but what can you do?
On Alexei Eremenko Leaving... "The situation will only become clear on February 1. It's not in our hands, so we will wait and hopefully February will come and go. If he gets his move in January then, great, his loan move to us has served a purpose. If it happens in the summertime then, great, he gets his move again and we can enjoy his services longer. The loan deal is until the summer but there is a clause he can be sold in January."

Dec 4th on the Season's Goals... "Understandably, people were tipping us to fight against relegation and it's not over yet. We are not even halfway through the season yet. Our target is to survive the SPL comfortably. Whatever position that may be in, we don't know. We will try to do as well as we can. The targets for the season have not changed, we want to stay up in the league and hopefully we can do that comfortably."

Dec 3rd on a New Deal for Conor Sammon... "Talks aren't too far along, we are just at the initial stage, He still has one season after this one remaining. We would like to work with Conor longer, he is a player who works very hard and does good things on the pitch. I feel there is lots more development in Conor so hopefully we can sort out the contract and keep working.  Conor is a player who has benefited from Alexei's passing ability, He is the player who has put the ball in the net and I'm sure he is pleased with his month. But it's a team effort - it's not just Alexei and Conor. The other players are making an effort to get on the ball and they're helping those two play well. It is a team effort".

Dec 2nd on Ermenko Being the SPL's Nov Player of the Month... "He has done tremendously well for us,He is our playmaker, he is on the ball a lot and we are doing well. The deal is, if a club comes in and wants to buy Alexei from Metalist, and they agree to that, then he will go, So there is a possibility he could leave in January, although the loan deal is until the summer." 

Nov 30th on Being Considered for the Dons Job..."I am enjoying every second here. The players are working very hard and they are enjoying the work. I'm enjoying every day so I am not looking elsewhere, put it that way."

Nov 29th on Offers Coming In For Conor Sammon..."He's a pleasure to work with and right now he's the first name on my team sheet every week. However, I know how football works and there will be clubs who have noticed how well he's doing and who will come in for him. We don't want to stop players progressing. My job is to develop them and if we receive a ridiculous offer then we'd need to accept it. However, as we proved with Bryson during the summer the deal has to be right for the club as well."

Nov 27th on the Dons Post-Match... "It was a good, controlled performance, We didn't allow Aberdeen too many chances. We scored two goals and we might have scored one or two more.
On the Replacement Refs... "It was a good performance, very decisive and very clear". On the penalty... "I would be very surprised if it wasn't a foul. Why would any offensive player go down in a situation like that? The referee was in a good position and didn't hesitate."  Match Report

Nov 26th on Replacement Refs Being Used In The Dons Match...  "Whoever referees our match will be up to the standard. People who call them in will make sure that's the case, I trust them.  I don't believe anything special needs to be said to the players at all. We concentrate on how we want to pass the ball, how we want to move, how we want to defend. That's the most important thing for us. Yes, of course, the referees' decisions are important as well but whoever comes in will be qualified to referee matches at this level. Country by country there are differences, how they treat people. For example how they view simulation. I don't think that's a problem. I don't care where the referees come from if he's up to standard. It's good to talk, here is an opportunity to talk to refs about certain decisions, that is in place already. We can contact the head of the referees department and talk to them about that decision and engage with them. They might say 'Yes, the referee made a mistake there' or they might say 'No, that was the case'. We can talk afterwards about it. I think it's very important to be able to talk and get things off your chest. But I don't think every time you make a mistake, you should do that. The bottom line is the referees make decisions and they sometimes call it wrong."

Nov 21st on the Rangers Post-Match..."I saw exactly what happened out there and it's very disappointing, I thought it was a good match and we caused them lots of problems. I can't fault the players for their efforts or the way they passed the ball and made runs. If you concede goals like that against Rangers then you're asking for trouble. We want to pass the ball but it's also important to know when the pass if forcing things, I felt that we forced things and were asking for trouble. It's unfortunate, but playing this type of football, you might concede goals like that. It's disappointing and the players must learn. They were both penalties,In Sissoko's case it was clumsy; if he pulled him back then it's a yellow card and it's a sending off - simple as that." Match Report

Nov 18th on Killie Players on International Duty... "I'm not going to say that Kilmarnock will become a better team suddenly because we've got some international players but it can't do any harm. I know from my experience you feel good about yourself when you've been away with your country and made an impact. It should be a boost to Cammy, Craig and Alexei and it also shows that international football is out there if you want it. It should be within the reach of ANY of my players. If they want to work hard and be consistent then there's no reason why they can't catch the eye of their international manager. It's what every player should strive for in his career and if he puts the effort in then the rewards can follow. We've been playing well recently and it's nice to get some recognition for our efforts but the hard work doesn't stop here. Alexei is an example to all our players. He's an experienced international and he's got to that level because he puts everything into training and games."

Nov 13th on Ermenko During the Arabs Post-Match... "I'm not surprised by that as he is a quality player. He always passes the ball well and his awareness and technical ability is excellent. He is a quality player. I thought Mehdi Taouil also played well. I was also very pleased with our defensive performance as Dundee United pressed us well, especially in the first half. They made life very difficult for us but all credit to the boys as they passed the ball around them and created good openings. We were disappointed to lose the goal so soon after we scored but I thought we were totally in control in the second half." Match Report

Nov 11th on the Accies Post-Match... "Hamilton pressed us well at the start, but the movement from the boys was fantastic and we found holes. It's up to the boys to produce it every week now because they've set their standard here. There will be difficult days as well, we won't win 3-0 every week, but at the moment we should enjoy it.
On Being Considered For the National Finish Team Job..."It absolutely flatters me, but that's all there is to it. I'm totally happy here. There's no point saying anything about it. I'm delighted here working my socks off with the boys and enjoying the good vein of form. Let's not destroy it. They (the Finnish FA) haven't asked anything so there's no point commenting."  Match Report

Nov 10th on the Accies Pre-Match... "We do realise if we take this game lightly we'll get beat. Hamilton are a good team, when we played them earlier this season we were totally on the wrong end in the first half and they scored two goals. They were very sharp and all over us. They have big strong defenders and players who can hurt us, Nigel Hasselbaink was tremendous that day. But we showed our spirit in the second half and scored two goals. They will make it very difficult for us to pass the ball but hopefully our movement and sharpness of mind will allow us to do that."

Nov 6th on the Saints Post-Match... "We came here hoping to win and we did. The result is fantastic again. We didn't concede a goal and scored three. It's tremendous. We started the match well and got our passing game going straight away, We were a little bit lucky with the first goal, the own goal, but I thought it was fully merited from our play before that and I thought it was always coming. The first 20 minutes of the second half they pressed us, tried to bully us, put a lot of pressure on us, they can do that - they're a good team.  All credit to the boys, the way they defended and always we looked dangerous on the break.  We have conceded a lot of sloppy goals this season, but the ability is there and if the boys are tough in their heads they make less mistakes," Match Report

Nov 4th on the Saints Pre-Match... "My job is to help the boys and the team to play as well as possible and win matches, In my opinion, if something isn't working, it's my job to correct it. Whether I correct it at half-time, during the match or during the week in training, it doesn't matter. That's my job. It was very unfortunate. I told Rui Miguel it was my mistake. I take full responsibility for it. I know the player is disappointed but I felt that type of striker didn't suit our game and had to make a change. But Rui Miguel is a fantastic striker. His technical ability, link-up play and all-round play is excellent. I'm pretty certain he will score loads of goals for us. Rui is a fantastic person and he understands. I wouldn't like to do that too often, that's for sure, but unfortunately I had to do it. Slowly, the signs (of progress) are there, I did realise that in previous matches. Maybe the results were not the ones we wanted but the signs were there that we were on the right track. Hopefully we can keep it going. The danger now is that the players relax a bit too much after that fantastic victory and bang, you get hit against St Johnstone, who are full of players who can hurt you. We must be on our toes again. We approach home and away matches pretty much the same with a minor tweak here and there. Hopefully our home form will improve but it is pleasing that, three months into the season, we have scored more goals away from home than we did in the whole of last season."
On the Season So Far... “Games are won or lost by fine margins, and if we keep concentrating on the things we are good at then we’ll be okay. Our general play has been good this season and the feedback I’m getting from supporters is that people are enjoying the type of football we’re dishing up. But I don’t just want us to pass the ball well from player to player. It’s all very well having possession, but it’s goals that win matches and that’s the area where we have to improve. We are nowhere near where I want us to be yet, but this season is going to be very, very tough for us, I’m sure the supporters appreciate what we are trying to do, and their backing at Tynecastle was wonderful, just as it has been all season. The fans have been very encouraging in their comments to me, and we want to keep that going, for it’s important that we have plenty of positives around the club and ensure that everyone who comes to Rugby Park enjoys what they see.”

Oct 31st on the Hearts Post-Match..."I'm very pleased with the performance and the collective spirit, I'm delighted we got a victory in the end. It was excellent.  Our performances have been good in general so far this season so I'm not overly concerned. I know if we convert a fraction of the chances we create, we can score enough goals to stay in this league and that's the target for this season. We've always created loads of chances to score goals, we haven't put them away. Today the boys were fantastic. Three goals away from home is tremendous.
On Eremenko... "He's a quality player, I've not seen a better passer of the ball than him in this league and it's amazing that a player like that plays for Kilmarnock. Hopefully he shoots more because he can score more goals for us, but he also creates lots." Match Report

Oct 30th on the Hearts Pre-Match... "Tynecastle is a fantastic arena to play in. It's very tight and the terraces are close so it should be a nice atmosphere. It's a good surface normally so we're looking forward to passing the ball again and hopefully create problems for Hearts. They are a good team. They've got plenty of very powerful players in their ranks and they will cause problems to any side and we realise that."

Oct 27th on the Rangers Co-Op Post-Match... "We have changed dramatically how Kilmarnock pass the ball. Our players have taken that in fantastically well and we've improved, We played Rangers and played well. At the moment we don't put away anywhere near as many chances as we should. Defending, we can do a lot better, but that's where we are. I felt we created more chances than Rangers and this gives us belief, This gives us plenty of encouragement and optimism. Come January, there will be changes in personnel. It's up to the players to make sure they are in my plans. But we do need players to put the ball away. I'm so pleased with the boys' application and effort."  Match Report

Oct 23rd on the Caley Post-Match...  "According to the players, Momo never touched the player, but for my liking he goes too fast into that challenge anyway.  He should slow down just before he tackles the player, the players say it was a dive, but from where I was sitting Momo should have known better inside the penalty box. If he never touched the player it's a shame because we don't want to concede penalties that aren't penalties. At the other end, I felt it was ball going to hand [from Inverness defender Graeme Shinnie, but we didn't get the penalty, unfortunately it didn't go to our liking.  I felt the first-half was a good performance as well, we had good chances to score, but possibly we weren't decisive enough in front of their goal. I said to the boys in the dressing-room, that there comes a time when we get punished when we pass it from the back instead of launching it forward willy-nilly. There's never a good time, but the second goal came at a bad time for us. It was too tight for Frazer to pass, he should have gone for a safer option, but unfortunately he didn't and we got punished by a good finish." Match Report 

Oct 22nd on the Caley Pre-Match... "Big Tel and Maurice always get their team spirited and fighting for every ball and every challenge, They are one hundred percent men and I'm not surprised they're up there and have had a good start to the season. It's another match and we do realise it's a difficult one. They come to Rugby Park with plenty fight in their team. They've got players with pace up front and a solid defence and all-rounders in midfield, so it will be a difficult game - that's for sure. Our results will come. I believe that performances give you results and good finishes in the league in the long run. Recently we have played well, passed the ball and dominated vast periods in the matches but we haven't won on the last two occasions, so hopefully we can put that right on Saturday."
On Signing Players From Dundee..."There are players from the Dundee squad that would interest us. At the moment I can't bring in any players,"

Oct 16th on the Hibs Post-Match...  "I'm disappointed. It had to come, Hibs' first win, at some point. It was on the cards wasn't it, that it would happen today? "I do feel that performances give you results, but the last couple of matches we haven't picked up any points - but we will. It's important we keep passing the ball, don't get frustrated and in the long run we'll be fine. We had a tremendous start but all credit to Hibs, they came back. At times we do have a softness a little bit, we need to be more decisive mentally to keep a clean sheet. Their second goal was a good goal from Hogg's point of view but a terrible, freak goal from our point of view. Today the ball rolled for them and they got three points". Match Report

Oct 2nd on the Arabs Post-Match..."Obviously Wright will be disciplined by me because what he did damaged the whole team. I wanted to hear from him what he had said, I think he was arguing about a free-kick award. I think it was a shaky performance from the referee today, but Frazer was still wrong. I thought our overall performance was fantastic. We created a lot of chances, we just couldn't put them away. There's no point playing good football and not putting the ball in the net, but it just didn't go for us in front of goal today. On another day it will. The players did exactly what I asked of them against a strong United team. We dominated and had enough chances to have won."Match Report

Sept 25th on the Accies Post-Match... "If there was ever a game of two halves, that was it, The first half was the worst performance we've had this season. On the other hand, the second half was fantastic. There was great passing, it was very exciting going forward with numerous chances to score. We didn't start the match. They passed the ball, they pressed us and were all over us. Our defenders and midfielders didn't want to make tackles and win the ball. And when we had it, we gave it straight back.I'm not sure what was wrong with it, I think the goalkeeper maybe moved forward too early. It's possible it was for players going into the box too early. We are happy that we got the second chance and Jamie buried it. We got a lifeline there and to score the equaliser, that was well deserved.  We were the much better team second half and they were the much better team first half. This is a very difficult venue. Hamilton are a fantastic team. They have plenty of spirit and plenty of power, pace and determination. We're delighted to take a point away from here." Match Report

Sept 22nd on the Hibs (CIS) Post-Match... "I can't praise the boys' character enough. It's a big blow, first being given a penalty and a chance to equalise, and then it's a corner kick. Nobody's heads went down and we went on to win the game. The fourth official made a call there. It's a new thing they do to make decisions right. Hopefully it's the right decision, I haven't seen it on TV yet. I'm perfectly calm no because we won. God help me if it was the other way round. I felt the referee was in a better position. He didn't hesitate, he pointed to the spot straight away". Match Report

Sept 21st on the Hibs (CIS) Pre-Match... "This is a very tough match for us, Hibs are a good team. They qualified for Europe last season and, in my books, they will qualify for Europe this season as well. They have had a sticky start but they have wonderful players and the same management as last year and I wouldn't be surprised if they qualified for Europe again. They are not firing on all cylinders yet and hopefully it stays that way at least until after this game. We know they are well capable of beating anybody, Old Firm included, and we are facing a very difficult match."

Sept 19th on the Celtic Post-Match... "It's never too early or late to score. We score one and we go for the second but all credit to Celtic, we were playing against a fantastic team and they put us under pressure. But I felt we started fantastically well and it's not often you dominate against the Old Firm, they usually put you under pressure straight away. After we scored we stopped, they pushed us deep but we could have cleared our lines a little bit better. It's another learning experience for the players and hopefully one day you get it right."   Match Report

Sept 18th on the Celtic Pre-Match... "The key is the movement and we practise that all the time. It gives you the offensive side to the game if you play exciting players on the wings and players who can pass the ball properly. Of course these players, James Dayton and David Silva, are out-and-out wingers and they are exciting players, technically gifted, and can go past a player. We hope the players that come in can do that for us as well. But this match is a little bit different as well because we face Celtic, who are very, very offensive, especially in the wide areas. So we must defend well. We want to make sure who comes in for those positions are not only good going forward but also solid defensively because you can go too offensive against a quality team like Celtic."
On New Signing Portuguese centre-forward Rui Miguel ... "I always wanted to improve that position in the team and I feel Rui will do that, I think he will improve our link-up play up front. He is a striker who has played top level. He has European experience under his belt so I feel he is a good acquisition to the squad."

Sept 14th on James Dayton's Injury... "James has unfortunately done his cruciate ligament so he will be out for many months, We will know more after he has seen the specialist. It's a big blow as he has done so well since he came here and what a goal he scored against St Mirren. That shows what he can produce. But now he will probably be out for the season. James caught his studs in the turf as he went to turn, there was no tackle and as he turned it just went."
On David Silva's hamstring strain... "He could be two or three weeks, Hopefully it will respond to treatment."

Aug 12th on the Buddies Post Match... "All the players are comfortable with their roles and it's coming on well.  It's early days and there are still loads of flaws in our game, like the goal we conceded when a player fell asleep and was punished. Manuel Pascali thought it was handball and stopped playing for half a second which allowed Thomson to get into that hole." Match Report

Aug 11th on the Buddies Pre Match... "They have started the season very well. They have had a very tough opening three matches but they have managed to pick up four points. We have had them scouted and I have managed to see them a couple of matches. I don't think there will be too many surprises but it is always a new adventure when you play a new team with a new manager. I think it will be a very even game. Some people might say St Mirren is an easier game than against Celtic or Rangers but it's not, it's a very difficult match for us and we have to be on our toes to take anything from it. But it's three points at stake and that's what we want to do, accumulate as many goals as possible.  We played fantastically well at Aberdeen. To go up there to a tough venue against a team who were top of the table, and have most of the possession and more shots on and off target than them, was very pleasing and encouraging.  But so far our boys have done fantastically well, in terms of passing the ball and defending. If we keep that going I am quietly confident we will have a great result on Saturday.  But it has to happen on Saturday, there is no point in talking about it now."

Aug 28th on the Dons Post Match...  "Even in the first half we created a couple of chances, and I thought we had a real chance in this game as long as we stayed organised and had no individual lapses in concentration. The boys were fantastic. I felt we looked really dangerous any time we got the ball. We got through their midfield really easily and just before we scored we had a couple of really good chances, and Mark Howard made some fantastic saves.  Today lady luck was on our side. We had a little luck when we eventually scored and I'm delighted. I was always hoping that one of those attacks would give us a goal and that there would be no mistakes in our own defence. I wanted to win the game and I knew it was possible. Aberdeen have had a fantastic start to the season with two wins before this, but all credit to the boys. They fought really hard, were organised in defence and when we got the ball they followed the plan and created chances".
On  Sammon .... "Connor is a big, powerful striker who works ever so hard in training and in matches. There's still loads to work on with him in terms of movement but he was tremendous today and he played the ninety minutes despite a head knock. He played like Terry Butcher in his heyday. With a little bit more luck he might have scored himself." Match Report

Aug 26th on Taking on Loan Villa Striker Harry Forrester... "Harry is a young striker who has not yet broken into the Villa first-team but he's one for the future, I think the SPL gives these boys a good platform to perform, He came in a couple of weeks ago to train with us and played in a practice match and did really well and scored a goal.  So we took it forward and now he is joining us. He is a very energetic player, good technical ability, buzzes about the main striker." 

Aug 25th on the Airdrie Post Match... “Hopefully the first win of many, It was fantastic as the boys were very good, but all credit to Airdrie who were a spirited side and pushed us all the way.” Match Report

Aug 22nd on the Well Post-Match... "I felt Motherwell got out of jail and that we dominated from start to finish. Manu's header was absolutely going in, but it was good defending by Motherwell and they got the clean sheet and won the match. We passed the ball well, played some fantastic football and created chances, but we aren't scoring goals. The most important bit is missing, and also we fell asleep at the goal - we have a lot of players who sometimes have a tendency to fall asleep and we need to improve. However, I'm so pleased with the way we played, as we dominated against a very good team and I'm encouraged that we'll go forward from here and hopefully we'll score enough goals to win matches. I would like to think that our performance should have given us goals, but unfortunately they defended the goal line really well. We will hopefully find the striker that will enhance us - it's not easy because of the constraints that we have, but hopefully one or two will materialise."   Match Report

Aug 19th on Mohamadou Sissoko... "His international clearance is through so he is free to play this weekend, Hopefully we will see some solid defending from him. Sissoko is a defender who adds height to our team and solid defending. He's a real talent. Udinese respect him and they see him as a future starting player in their first team. But we managed to get him on a one-year loan so hopefully he will get a good start to his career with us on Sunday."
On Adding A Striker... "I'm still looking madly, We have trialists in all the time and we are still hoping to add one or two players to the squad to make us a little bit more dangerous in front of the opposition goal."

Aug 14th on the Rangers Post-Match... "I felt at times we passed the ball well and caused them problems. There were quite long periods when we were on top which was unbelievable and fantastic. The players deserve so much credit. We have only been together for six or seven weeks but we have been training hard and the boys are starting to know their roles. We were a little blunt up front and need to improve that part of the game but overall I was quite pleased." Match Report

Aug 13th on the Rangers Pre-Match...“We’ve been preparing for the game all week, working on the best way to approach the game. We’ll go to Ibrox in a positive frame of mind and hopefully get a result that we’re happy with. I’d like to believe that we have enough in our team to cause them a few problems and hopefully score a goal or two. It will be a very difficult match for us, no doubt about that, but if we go there and give plenty of effort then you never know. This is what we have been training so hard pre-season for. I am so looking forward to the kick-off on Saturday.”

Aug 10th On Signing Keeper Letheren..."Every keeper we have is capable of playing, that is a healthy situation to have. We've brought four players in and we're happy with that but we still need to bring in a striker."

Aug 1st On Giving Portuguese winger David Silva a 2 Year Deal..."Silva plays wide midfield and he's very skilful and sharp and will add to our squad, We're looking forward to seeing him play in the SPL but it always takes a little while for players to adjust to the pace of the game when they move to a different country. Will the supporters like him? Fans like any player who does well so it depends on what he produces on the park but hopefully he will settle quickly and do well. It doesn't stop here and we will continue looking for other players".

July 23rd on Hearts Offer For Bryson... "They were way, way below our asking price, We are looking to strengthen the striking department as we do not score enough goals, but we hope Craig stays and I will be delighted if he does. A striker is our priority, but I am looking to strengthen in all departments, There's a little money. Not too much. We are quite limited in what we can do, but we will dig deep."

July 19th on Killie's Youth Set Up... "Boyd and Naismith are quality and I don't think any club produces that calibre of player on a regular basis. But we have a good youth system and Alan Robertson is a doing a good job as head of youth. There are one or two players who have caught our eye in the Under-19 squad with their ability and the way they've performed. I hope we will produce players like that in future and it is our job to do it. My assistant Kenny Shiels and I attended the first youth coaches meeting to introduce ourselves and offer our support. We are all in it together as Kilmarnock coaches whether that's with the first team or the Under-10s. This is the atmosphere we want to create and if you can get everyone pulling together then you have more chance of producing the quality of players mentioned earlier. It's important for the Under-19s squad to be used to first-team training. The attitude of the younger players here has been good."
On Being Unhappy with the Fitness of his Players ... "It has been demanding. We tested the boys when they came in last Thursday and I was a little bit disappointed in the level of fitness. That can be understandable when there is no manager and some players maybe think the programmes that were made for them for the summer didn't apply. But to be fair to them they have now been working hard and have shown a great attitude."
On His Goal For the Upcoming Season.. "Eventually we want to reach the top six but whether that's this season or next we have to wait and see. But survival is the first and foremost thing. That is the realistic target. Top six would be wonderful and you never know but if we can get a positive start, get a bit of luck and have everyone on a positive footing anything could happen. It will be a hard season and everyone will need to work for the team. But if we can get that kind of togetherness we will be hard to beat."

July 16th on Beuzelin Being Offered Terms..."It is subject to a medical and he should be okay because he's been training with us, I can't see why he couldn't play two seasons for Kilmarnock. As soon as we're convinced that the player who is on trial would enhance our team, we would enter negotiations and hopefully come to agreement, There are players training with us that we like and hopefully we can make some announcements before too late. I do want to bring in players, there is scope to do that. We just have to wait and see."

July 15th on Finding A New Striker... “It’s obvious to all that we need to sign offensive players for the club, for I don’t think there are enough goals in the squad that we have at the moment. I’m desperate to bring in players who can strengthen us in forward positions, players who can score goals to help us win matches. I have several trialists training with us at this time, for it’s that time of the year when players are coming and going at all clubs. Of course there are Scotsmen among them, but I’m also running the rule over English players and foreign players as well. Hopefully I’ll be in a position to reveal some names before too long, but for the moment I’m not prepared to identify them.”
On midfielder Craig Bryson... “I want Craig to stay here because he’s a very good player,” said the gaffer, “and I’m in no hurry to lose him. He’s under contract with the club, but every player has his price and you never know just what’s around the corner. I repeat, I’m not in a hurry to get rid of him.”
On the Training Itself...“The boys have been absolutely fantastic and their attitude has been spot on, The first week back was very hard for them, but they responded well. We let the players work with the ball from day one, for my belief is that you can combine that with the hard physical work that’s required in preparing for the new season. What I want to see from my team first and foremost is effort and fighting spirit,  I want to see our players pulling together and showing a feeling of togetherness. They have to demonstrate that they are working hard for their club and the supporters. If we get that from the players and are properly organised then hopefully we can have a better season than the club have had in the last couple of years. My philosophy is that if you work hard then you’ll be successful in the long run.”

July 8th on Meeting the Squad at Training... “It was very good, fantastic, and after the introductions were over, we had a good chat with the players. Everything went according to plan, and the guys responded really well to what we asked them to do.”
On Chris Innes and Guillaume Beuzelin... “They are not here on trial as has been reported in some newspapers,I offered them training facilities as they are both seasoned professionals currently without a club. They can have a look at the situation here and how we go about things and we have the chance to see them at the same time. It’s a case of both parties having the opportunity of weighing things up, and if something happens, it happens.”
On Adding to the Squad... “I don’t have an exact figure in mind on the number of players I want to bring in, for that would depend on what type of guys I sign. If we attract players who can play in various positions then I might not have to sign as many. It’s difficult to say at this stage if I will sign two, three or four players. But I am well aware that the squad is not big enough at the moment for a full season in the SPL. I don’t mind whether they are Irish, French or whatever. I’ll keep an open mind on that. There are so very many players who are out of contract at the moment, and although we may be restricted on who we can bring in because of financial restraints, there are players out there who could improve things here.”
His initial Thoughts on Being in Charge at Rugby Park... "Its been a very busy time for myself, and I’ve had an unbelievable workload since I was appointed. I feel as if I’m doing the work of 10 people, but I’m loving every moment of it. Bit by bit, we’ll get the work done that’s required, but right now my target is working towards the first game of the season when we play Rangers at Ibrox.”
On Killie's pre-season programme.... “The difficulty at this stage is trying to find opponents who have free dates. I don’t want to say who we’ll be playing against, but I can say that they will be good opponents in our build-up to the new season.”

June 26th on Having A Mellower Approach to Management...""I think I have mellowed during my year out, and I want to be more mellow on the touchline. But I don't want to lose my passion and I don't think I will. It is important for me to stay calm. There will be times when that won't happen, but I want to develop as a manager and that's one aspect I need to improve on. I wouldn't say I got too excited on the touchline that often, although it's hard to swallow when things go against you. It's difficult to make promises about this, but I'm trying to improve as a manager in every way, including that side of things. But we're all the same, sometimes the animal in us comes out. When it does, it has to be in a controlled manner. After that game I went to Walter's office and he was fantastic. He apologised to me and I could not respect him more. As far as I'm concerned what happened that day was nothing. I look forward to shaking his hand at Ibrox in August. Some people might say that Kilmarnock is not the right job because there isn't loads of money to spend on players but every job has pros and cons and I see plenty of positives here, Hopefully, my experience of scrimping and saving when I was in charge at Cowdenbeath will help. I have some great contacts down south and I intend to utilise them. I can't build a team straight away to play the way I want, because some players are under contract and I can bring in only a few others on our budget, but I can still make changes. I've already been in touch with agents and clubs and there will be players coming in, although I don't know exactly when. There are always bargains to be had just before the transfer window closes. There will also be players coming over on trial during our pre-season games but I want to take my time and make sure I get the right ones. I have really missed the involvement with players on the training ground during my year out, the matches and all of the adrenaline of the job. But at the same time, there's no doubt I've benefited from having the break. I said to my wife recently that I think every manager should have one at some point of their career. When you're in the job, you're totally immersed in it and that's all you can focus on. However, when you step outside of it you can look at what you did and really reflect on things and see the bigger picture."

June 24th More on Becoming Killie Boss...“This is a fantastic club, and I have a good feeling about it. There is a real ambition here. I know that the last couple of seasons Kilmarnock have not been as successful as people would have wanted. Every club has its bad spells. It is up to the people in charge to obtain the best results and finish in the highest position possible. For Kilmarnock, the only way is up. I knew there were many experienced managers being considered for the job. I was a little surprised to have the job very quickly, but I had no hesitation in accepting. The SPL is a good league. It is very tight and anybody can beat anybody, which makes it very interesting. I know finances at all the SPL clubs have suffered in recent years for various reasons, Obviously there are plenty of experienced players, who produced high standards for many years, who have left. I’ve looked at the remaining squad, and they are talented players with fantastic work ethics. In the period ahead, I hope to bring in new players using my contacts, and with a little bit of luck, in the transfer market. I’m looking to inject a positivity into our players and game.”

June 23rd on Becoming the Killie Boss...  "I was desperate to get back and I look forward to being at Kilmarnock, I missed the training ground and the adrenaline. There is scope to improve the squad. Not too much, just a little bit. I hope to bring in a couple of players I haven't spoken to any of the players and I don't intend to until 5 July. I know it's a big task and difficult. The SPL is very tight but I believe with hard work you can create a little luck."

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