Popular Post kfc_superteam Posted April 17, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 (edited) Lee Clark has nothing but admiration for Steve Clarke. But the Geordie believes Kilmarnock’s main men behind the scenes have been just as big a driving force in his old club’s stunning bid for the Europa League. Clark reckons Rugby Park supremo Billy Bowie and director John Kiltie have elevated the club. Their identification and snaring of Clarke last October has kickstarted a magnificent upturn in fortunes in Ayrshire which now has sights on a charge for the continent. The ex-boss isn’t shocked at that foresight. Having worked for the pair during his own days at Rugby Park, he’s well aware of the ambitions and funding which are provided to give the manager a base to produce his magic. Clark explained: “It was a massive statement for the club when they got Steve to take the job. A really serious coup. That would be down to Billy’s bigger influence in the club. Listen, Billy and John are brilliant fellas. They could not have done any more for me. Top, top guys. “You’d speak to them daily and they backed everything I tried to do on and off the field within reason. There has been changes off the field since I left and Billy is getting a bigger and stronger say with what is happening and it’s showing on the pitch. “The passion and commitment of them and others at the club is incredible and it’s fantastic to see the rewards. “I see QTS have continued their backing. They are great backers and it’s so positive. “Beating Celtic and Rangers regularly. It’s tremendous. “I got to know Steve well during his time as assistant to Ruud Gullit at Newcastle and then I’ve come up against him in the Championship when he was manager of Reading. He’s is a top class manager and gets the best of players. Look at Kris Boyd. He’s turned the clock back 10 years. “It’s great credit to him, his staff and the lads.” Killie’s superb form has now given them a real shot of making Europe. Four points behind fourth-placed Hibs, the Ayrshire side have five games to overcome the deficit and Clark is savouring the resurgence after a the brush with relegation which he averted two seasons ago. He said: “Being top-six was great, now fifth and why can’t they can go higher? “No-one of the top teams is going to fancy playing them with their current form and record and it’s nice the fans and the club will be able to enjoy big games. “We had a horrible situation where the club could have gone down to the Championship, which didn’t bear thinking about. “Look at the time it took Hibs to get back up. Dundee United now. But we got it. “We changed the group and, although the league was very tight, I left in sixth position. Lee Clark enjoyed his time at Rugby Park “It was strange that it was a calendar year. I joined on February 14 and left to join Bury on February 14 the next year. “Bury were second bottom, but stayed in the league. We then tried to put together a squad for a promotion push, but it didn’t happen. It didn’t gel as quickly as we’d hoped. “Even still, we were just two points from 16th when we left. Now they are 10 points adrift at the bottom of the table and were relegated at the weekend. “The first part at Bury was similar to Kilmarnock. Going into the club in a February and keeping them in their league. Clark might now be out of work after that disappointment, but he’s not out of the game. A regular at grounds around the country, his current MO is to watch games, evaluate players, stay on point with tactical plans. All in preparation for his next job. Could it be back in Scotland? Clark doesn’t rule it out as he said: “I’m glad I went to Scotland. It gave me a different thought process. “I’m not someone who is sucked in by the general consensus in England about the standard of Scottish football. “When I went there, it was nothing like that. The young players are coming back and just need guidance. Look from Brendan Rodgers to Steve now, top, top managers are offering that guidance. “I enjoyed the football. There’s an honesty about it on the pitch and in the stands and there is lots of talent.” Wherever he goes in the future, though, there will always be a piece of Clark at Killie. He concluded: “I’ve been back to Rugby Park. I’ve watched a game. I’ve been to other Premiership games, Championship games. It’s important to stay in touch with players and teams. “But my only memories of Killie are fond. “I hope I made friends for life. Supporters and people behind the scenes. It’s a great club. And I’m delighted they are getting the success they deserve.” Edited April 17, 2018 by kfc_superteam 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Superscot Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Got his little mention of leaving us in 6th place..... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scouser2 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Decent article as we know from his brief time at the club ....he does like to talk, talk and talk and then try to put a spin on his "accomplishments" .... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historyman Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 18 minutes ago, Jimmy Superscot said: Got his little mention of leaving us in 6th place..... Yes, and Bury were 'only two points from 16th' when he left them. I suspect that means they were in the relegation places. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhumper Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 36 minutes ago, historyman said: Yes, and Bury were 'only two points from 16th' when he left them. I suspect that means they were in the relegation places. haha, he learned something from MJ at least. Creative wording. -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killiekosmos Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 41 minutes ago, historyman said: Yes, and Bury were 'only two points from 16th' when he left them. I suspect that means they were in the relegation places. Alphabetically they were close to the top! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_dug Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Likeable guy. Full of positivity and think he genuinely liked his time here. I have no ill will towards him. -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Souleycouley93 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Great guy to go for a drink. Not so much as a manager. Night and day under Clarke. Most enjoyable season I’ve ever had. Imagine how many more nobodies we could have signed under Lee Clark has he stayed. Clearly putting himself in the shop window. Good luck to him -8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red_dug Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 We need a "shakes head" emoji on here. Nobody is saying Steve Clarke isn't tremendous or that Lee Clark was..........however, he did have us playing decent football and winning an odd game which is more than the clown either side of his tenure managed. -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candygram for mongo Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Chancer. -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Souleycouley93 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Clark saved us from Relegation and I’d thank him for that. I think people liked his personality because the results weren’t particularly great and signings were erratic. Also his speech about club to be proud of then he jumps on first train down the road and ends up in Latvia six months later. Total Del Boy character. Don’t know why in Scottish football people get so carried away with “ he’s a great guy in changing room” Clark,Jig,Locke all nice guys / good laugh but had no real ability to actually set teams up or get something out our players. I like this year that Clarke has raised the standards and the place is being run properly. Clarke is the leader and doesn’t care what people have done before and if you train and play well you are in the team. No favourites or loyalties to anyone. Professionalism has been brought back. Dyer can joke around with players and Clarke concentrates on the games. Never seen someone so composed on the touchline. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIGHT and BLUE Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 (edited) 23 minutes ago, red_dug said: We need a "shakes head" emoji on here. Nobody is saying Steve Clarke isn't tremendous or that Lee Clark was..........however, he did have us playing decent football and winning an odd game which is more than the clown either side of his tenure managed. Well said, but you won't change the moronic view that Lee was a drunken loser and 'our Jig' was a mistimed genius! Edited April 17, 2018 by WIGHT and BLUE -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorro Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Snake oil salesman and like most good con men, some people will always defend him, because they don’t want to admit to themselves they were taken in by him. -4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraz65 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 He always did give a good interview. I liked the mention of the fortuitousness of a calendar year in charge. Was this not due to the need for a compensation payment expiring at 12 months and he got out as soon as he could? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estragon Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 1 hour ago, red_dug said: Likeable guy. Full of positivity and think he genuinely liked his time here. I have no ill will towards him. Absolutely this. He'll always be quite a curious character to have had in the history of the club - but I felt at the time that it was the right time to go. Probably emblematic of a period where short-term solutions were what the board were after, but aye - definitely likeable. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfc_superteam Posted April 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 I thought he did OKish for us. Disappointing to end up in the playoffs but you wonder if anyone could have sorted out that Gary Locke side. Did well in the end in the playoff when it mattered. Would have been a disaster if we went down. Second season mental recruitment however he did pull out 2 gems in Coulibaly who we sold for a million and Jones who we could possibly. When he left we were doing OK. Not too far off bottom and technically top six 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch14 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Good luck to him. Never a manager. But good luck to him and great to hear so much positivity from him about the club. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDeeBop Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Left the club in a better position tactically, financially and better off in the table than when he arrived. By those measures he was a short-term success. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhamkillieken Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 was horrified when he became our manager, got some stick on here for it, i saw first hand what he did with birmingham city, the blokes not a good manager. thankfully, after a blip, we are on to bigger and better things. -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skygod Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 4 hours ago, kfc_superteam said: “It was strange that it was a calendar year. I joined on February 14 and left to join Bury on February 14 the next year.” Nothing to do with less compensation being due after his first year was up? Pure coïncidence then? At least he says all the right things, but that seems to be one of his strengths. I can’t see him getting another management job in a hurry. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killie lad Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 1 hour ago, McDeeBop said: Left the club in a better position tactically, financially and better off in the table than when he arrived. By those measures he was a short-term success. And then you realise the manager before was Gary Locke and it's not any sort of achievement in the slightest 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heynow2005 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 I disagree we were playing good football under LC. I went to a few games and the ball was never less than 20 foot off the ground ...particular low light was a 2-0 defeat to Ross county in a mid week game . Absolute chancer -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaffer Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Said it before yes he talked a good game and jumped at the first opportunity but he kept us up when he took over as we were certs to go down. The 2nd leg of the playoff with Falkirk will remain with me for a long time. Atmosphere that day was immense as was the passion LC had for the job. Bacon rolls and walk along Troon beach, master tactician maybe not, but the players bought into it and it worked. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpetfitter Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 He kept us up. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrogate Peter Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 He was given more latitude than any manager I can remember. Bought a shed load of duffers and the odd good one (law of averages) played crap football and bogged off as soon as he could! Career buried at Bury which is what he deserved! Best to put him in the past which is where he belongs. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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