Managers Comments 2025-26
Managers Comments 2025-26
Managers Comments 2025-26
Killie FC
Aug 30th on the Well Post-Match; "We score a very good goal. It just comes down to game management at the end of the first half. We know Motherwell have pace in their team. We can handle the last few seconds of the first half far better. We don't and it's always a body blow when you concede at that time. Motherwell really took control and we lost another goal from a turnover. I have to praise their players to get back in the game and maybe win it. We'll absolutely take [the point]." - Match Recap -
Aug 29th on Returning to Fir Park: "I've been back to an old club before, It's something that happens in football. I try to act as professional as I can. It's not about me. I hope you all know I have never felt this is about me. I believe in being humble and not having an ego."
Aug 23rd on the Dee Post-Match: “Real frustration, yeah. You find yourself on a decent unbeaten run, you find yourself at home, and we had the best chances in the game. Statistically you see that, and I think your eyes would tell you the same. My wee frustration is that, as a group, we felt we missed that little bit of five or 10 percent. In the second half we were banging the goal down. Their keeper made save after save. We had territorial advantage, and we just had to turn the screw there. I felt if we got one it would’ve been defining in the game. I’m not criticising the players. We take ownership for not getting the goal, whether that be from a set play or from open play. Very simply, we continue on the unbeaten run, and we got a clean sheet. We wanted and we felt we deserved more. I did think Bruce’s chance was in, by how he finishes. I don’t want to put any blame on Bruce, as we had other efforts there. We got into good positions and we probably should’ve worked the goalkeeper a little bit more with a bit more quality." - Match Recap -
Aug 17th 2025 on the Arabs (Lge Cup) Post-Match: “Our task was to try get into the next round of the cup by hook or by crook. You want to play well and score goals in doing so. My overall assessment is that we’re happy and ecstatic that we’re through, and that we knew today was always going to be a difficult cup tie, irrespective of what Dundee United have been through in recent times. Sometimes we’re architects of our own downfall. We were taking one touch when we should be taking two, maybe not selecting the right option, or not making the right angle to stay on the ball. We’re an honest bunch. We’re happy with the outcome, but I think we all know that in stages we were very good, but other times we could’ve been so much better. Either way, it doesn’t matter. I wanted to be sitting here in front of you in the next round of that cup with a home tie. That’s where we are. - Match Recap -
Aug 10th 2025 on the Hibs Post-Match: "For large parts of the first half, it didn't work and we altered the shape. You can think you're a tactical genius, but it wasn't that - it was how the players applied themselves. From that point, we carried more of a threat, we retained the ball better and looked better defensively. To be 2-0 down against a team that's absolutely flying at Easter Road, it's a mountain to climb. I'm absolutely delighted by the reaction of the players and the quality of the goals. [Brannan's strike] will be spoken about for quite some time. It's some strike, it's unbelievable. We had some other real good moments and spooked Hibs at the back. The goal aside, Ben is 18. We gave him his debut, we knew he was talented. I'll not get carried away, he's playing out of position, and he's embraced the whole situation. He's taken everything in his stride and you need that emotional intelligence to give yourself a chance." - Match Recap -
Aug 2nd 2025 on the Livi Post-Match: "We felt we were really comfortable. Livingston changed their shape at half-time, and that tells you what we've done in the first half is good. We felt we would manage the situation. One or two things started to conspire against us. I believe [the penalty] is rather soft, the initial tug came from Robbie Muirhead. We feel harshly done by on that one. Once we went down to 10, we were resolute. We limited Livingston to few chances. You believe at that point you're going to get through it, but it wasn't to be. It felt we were comfortable enough, albeit we were down to 10 men. I didn't feel Livingston were creating many chances at that point. The game just hinges on that one moment." - Match Recap -
Aug 1st on Brannan's New 3 Year Deal: "Ben is a player who has impressed me since day one, He has all the right attributes that we are looking for to be an important part of the squad. We are delighted Ben has decided to sign this deal and we're confident we can help him work towards his high potential. I've made no secret about the fact young players will get the chance if they're ready, and now it's up to Ben to stake his claim for a regular spot. It has been a great start this season for him but now it's important he builds on that."
July 31st on the Season Ahead: "Your league position, a cup run and the potential of selling a football player. We talk about ways to make football clubs grow and earn money and for the wheel to keep turning. There are only three ways that that can happen. From a manager's perspective, your league position, being as high as it possibly can be, a cup run and that player development to sell a player are the three goals, that's the main ones. It's safe to say that we have lofty aspirations of where we want to be. As long as my players and the staff and everybody at the football club understands what that looks like, what success is, what failure looks like, then that's really all I'm concerned about. Sometimes those goals can shift as well. Sometimes it's a scenario where you do that a little bit better and you think that you can push boundaries even further than what might be expected. I think it's safe to say that the goals that we all set will be difficult to obtain, but we think also achievable."
July 26th on the E Fife Post-Match: "Stuart Kettlewell says his side are still a "work in progress" despite topping their League Cup group. "By and large, I was [pleased], I thought we started pretty well, obviously a wee bit more ruthless than we were the other night. We hit the back of the net a couple of times early in the game, and it starts to settle you down. My one wee frustration was there was a bit of slackness about us in the last 15 or so minutes. It's just to try to sustain the levels we've found throughout the game, but it's a work in progress, and we'll try to make that better."
On if 18-year-old Ben Brannan, can make an impact this season. "I hope so, I will give young players an opportunity if they show the qualities to play at this level. Quite clearly, we see Ben has bags of potential. What's been great for him in that position he's been playing is he's been able to come off the left hand side and finish but his more natural side is on the right." - Match Recap -
July 22nd on the Kelty (Lge Cup) Post-Match: "We have to be more threatening and we have to be able to go and express ourselves a wee bit more with some more composure to make sure we capitalise on opportunities," - Match Recap -
July 21st on Squad Planning: “I think everybody can see that for a large part of this, we've not been wanting to let anybody go, because we lost 15 from last season. It's a big number for a team to absorb. We brought in 10, so you're trying to get that integration with your squad, but there are still one or two areas that we would like to try and strengthen and bring in other options. We're working exceptionally hard. It's funny because you get 10 players in, we have worked hard to do that. We've obviously got our limitations and what we can throw at that. The football club has been great with me in terms of trying to bring in those players, but we know what our ceiling is. I think the later you get the window, the closer you get to the competitive action, you really start to fine-tune it; you're trying to get a couple of options for each position.
July 16th on the Livi (Lge Cup) Post-Match: “I’ve got to hold back from being negative because the boys showed real grit and determination to get the job done. But I know we can play better, and we will need to,” he said. “In possession, we need to keep the ball better, complete that first pass, and control games for longer spells. But you have to remember there is a lot of change. Fifteen out, 10 in, so there are going to be teething problems.” - Match Recap -
July 12th on the Brora Post-Match: "I don't often pick people out but I thought he (Brannan) was probably our most eye-catching player throughout the day, Really good. He's a lad that I knew of because an obsession of trying to get to know football players, not just at one club but around the country. So he's one that we've got high hopes for and quite clearly, like us all, we all need to improve, we all need to get better. But we changed him, we moved him to that right-hand side, he comes in from the left and covered the back area really well with a composed finish. But just trying to encourage him to give us a bit more because we believe in his talent and what he can bring to the party. We don't want him to wait five or 10 minutes to get going in the game. We want him to stamp up on it as quick he possible can." - Match Recap -
July 11th on Selecting Brad Lyons as Captain: "Brad is somebody that has worn the armband before, he's got great experience at international level and also in the Premiership. He's a brilliant type, seems to be available for training sessions, for games, so he was the natural choice".
July 10th on the Brora Pre-Match: "I think the biggest challenge you've got is if you don't have a plan, If you don't have a way you want to play, if you've not profiled them, if you're going to just kind of stumble along and hope that you find something, I think that's your biggest challenge. Probably in my nature and how I work, it's always about a clear structure, a clear plan, clear identity of what you want your team to look like. We've been doing our work and our due diligence, so we should start to see the fruits of our labour. Fortunately for us, even in pre-season, I've started to see a lot of bits I like, but also bits I know will still take a wee bit of time to improve on and to start to click. The buy-in from the players so far has been great and I'd probably be sitting here worrying if I didn't see that, but to a man the players have been fantastic that way."
July 2nd 2025 on Club History importance: "I always do a little thing with the players on day one - my non-negotiables, I'm not a school teacher, it's not a dictatorship, but what I need them to buy into is the culture that I believe in and the culture that already exists at this football club. Learn the history of this football club, understand what the history of the football club is. 2012 [Scottish League Cup win], the Scottish Cup win back in the 1990s - you need to understand that these things haven't happened very readily. European football last year, you see what that means to the football club. You have to learn that history, but you then have to add to it. We have to try to create our own piece of history. It's not easy, it's not a given, as we're certainly not the biggest club in this country, but those are the goals you have to set for yourself. How high can you finish in the league? How far can you go in cup competitions? Because those are the things that mean an awful lot to the supporters. The team will play a different way from before. We need to recruit and make sure we have players who'll be able to play the way that I'm going to ask them to play and, in doing so, you're always trying to get the absolute best".
June 17th on Signing Greg Kiltie: “Greg is a player I’ve admired for a number of years and he’s one that I’m confident will fit in well with our squad. He’s the type of player that will fit in well with the system we are going to play, and he’s the type of character we want to be here. Greg is a local lad, and Kilmarnock is his team, it was clear when speaking to him that he was eager to come back and I am delighted we could make it happen.”
June 10th on Signing Jamie Brandon: “We’re delighted to sign Jamie, there have been a lot of clubs competing for his signature, so to get this over the line, we are extremely pleased. He’s been a standout performer for Livingston, and he adds to the leadership qualities that we already have in abundance here. He’s exactly the type of character we want at this football club, he understands the demands of Scottish football. “Jamie fits in with the profile of players that we already have here, his addition will complement our squad. We want to build a squad with strong foundations and a real hunger to push forward. Jamie ticks all the boxes in that regard, and I’m delighted he’s chosen to continue his career here at Kilmarnock.”
June 1st 2025 on Squad Planning: "We're working hard on a few new faces. I would love to think that we can get close to something pretty soon. That work has started. I've been round every player in contract or out of contract and I've tried to do an awful lot of work, There's big influential characters there. I've done a lot of fact finding with the staff that are in the building. As many quality players that we can get tied up, we'll look to do that but of course there's going to be a freshness."
May 26th 2025 on Taking the Killie Job: "I believe there's a really good nucleus of players here, a lot of players I've admired from afar, but we're going to have to add some bodies. We've got a lot of out-of-contract players, we've got that tight-knit group there that know the league and demands of winning at this level, so we've been actively trying to work through that process and what we need to do" .
2025-26: Killie Hotshots I Squad I Home I Season Diary
Killie FC
Our policy relating to data collection and privacy has fairness at its heart and is never intended to cause objection or complaint and to that end if there is any dubiety we will not store your information. As a business we wish to stay in communication with your and keep you up to date with news, offers and updates on our product which you may find of interest, but we will only do this with your clear and specific consent.
Standard Privacy Policy
This privacy policy sets out how KILLIE FC uses and protects any information that you give KILLIE FC when you use this website.
KILLIE FC is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.
KILLIE FC may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 13th Jun 2018
Security
We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. To prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online and offline.
Where we collect this information
As a business we collect data for a number of sources, but our data policy applies to all of the following including personal data collected at reception, check in, exhibitions, on and off-line competitions, guest questionnaires, online bookings, online communications, digital newsletter sign ups from websites and social media, shared promotions with partners and others not listed.
We confirm that unless specific consent is given by the user the information shared will not be stored beyond the purpose intended. If specific consent is given to use the information collected it will be stored securely and digitally encrypted and password protected.
How we use cookies
A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.
We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data, using Google Analytics normally but on occasion other aggregation tools that advise us about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.
Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.
You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.
Links to other websites
Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.
Controlling your personal information
You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:
ââ whenever you are asked to fill in a form on the website, look for the box that you can click to indicate that you do not want the information to be used by anybody for direct marketing purposes
ââ if you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us or by clicking unsubscribe where available.
We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting only if you specifically consent to us that you wish this to happen.
We undertake that third parties will only include businesses that support our business and your stay such as travel providers, visitor attractions, event providers and others directly related to our business offering.
If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us [email protected] as soon as possible, at the above address. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.
Our Website and In House Data Collection Policy
Our email collection policy is fully consent based and in entering your details clear consent is given by the user to receive future marketing materials from ourselves. The following information makes clear our policy on use of consent based email marketing and communications.
What we collect
We may collect the following information on a consent only basis:
ââ name and job title
ââ contact information including email address
ââ demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests
ââ other information relevant to customer surveys and/or offers
What we do with the information we gather
The majority of the information we gather is required for contractual and legal purposes and to allow us to offer products and services as purchased.
When consent is given to use the information for marketing and communication purposes it is used for the following reasons:
ââ We may periodically send promotional emails about new products, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided.
ââ From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you using your provided email address for market research purposes.
Your information will never be shared with any third parties and at all times you have the right to unsubscribe permanently from our database with a simple click of the unsubscribe information at which time your details will be deleted from the mailing lists and removed from the database permanently with no archived records retained.
Killie FC
Your use of the Killie FC Web Site is subject to these terms and by using the Site you show your agreement to such terms. If you do not accept our terms, please do not use the Web Site.
Ownership of Web Site
This Web Site belongs to Killie FC. DROA is the site's annual registration holder in the US.
Headings
Headings used in these terms and conditions are for convenience only and shall not affect their interpretation.
Trademarks
The images, logos and names on this Web Site which identify Killie FC or third parties and their products and services are proprietary marks of Killie FC and/or the relevant third parties. Nothing contained in this Web Site shall be deemed to confer on any person any license or right on the part of Killie FC or any third party with respect to any such image, logo or name.
Alterations
Killie FC reserves the right, at any time and without prior notice, to remove or cease to supply any product or service contained on this Web Site. In the event that such removal takes place we shall not be liable to you in any way whatsoever for such removal.
Emails
Email correspondence with Killie FC at the email addresses accessible through, or discernible from, this Web Site may be monitored or stored. In using such communication methods you are consenting to the monitoring or storage of the same.
Forum (Message Board) Rules
Information for the registration and use of the Killie FC Forum(s) (Message boards) can be found at the following link ......
https://www.killiefc.com/forums
WEBSITE POLICIES
Commercial use
This Web Site is for non-commercial, personal use only. Killie FC exists simply as a non-profit recreational entity and is not a running business. The site is ad-free and generates no income.
Copyright
The copyright in the material contained in this Web Site belongs to Killie FC or its licensed source(s).
Any person may copy any part of this material; however, the material may not be used for any commercial purposes whatsoever and must retain any copyrights or other intellectual property notices as contained in the original materials.
Certain products and technology or processes described in this Web Site may be subject to other intellectual property rights reserved by Killie FC or by other third parties with no license granted in respect of those intellectual property rights); images on this Web Site are protected by copyright as its text by IPR and may not be reproduced or appropriated in any manner without the written permission of their respective owner(s).
You can also find our site's updated policy statements on Image Fair Use & DMCA handling (by clicking on the embedded links).
Changes to Terms and Records of Agreements
We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time by posting changes on the Web Site. It is your responsibility to review the Web Site terms and conditions to ensure you are aware of the latest terms and conditions. Your use of this Web Site after a change has been posted will be deemed to signify your acceptance of the modified terms and conditions. We recommend that you print off and retain for your records a copy of these terms and conditions from time to time.
Any amendment to terms and conditions must be agreed in writing by Killie FC .
Disclaimers
Whilst Killie FC has taken due care and attention in the preparation of the contents of this Web Site, this Web Site and the information, names, images, pictures, logos, icons regarding or relating to Killie FC and our content, are provided on an 'as is' basis without any representation or endorsement being made and without any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including but not limited to, any implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, compatibility, security and accuracy.
To the extent permitted by law, all such terms and warranties are hereby excluded. In no event will Killie FC be liable, whether in contract or tort (including negligence or breach of statutory duty) or otherwise for any losses sustained and arising out of or in connection with use of this Web Site including, without limitation, loss of profits, loss of data or loss of goodwill (in all these cases whether direct or indirect) nor any indirect, economic, consequential or special loss.
Killie FC does not represent that the information contained in this Web Site is accurate, comprehensive, verified or complete, and shall accept no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this Web Site or for any reliance placed by any person on the information.
Killie FC does not warrant that the functions or materials accessible from or contained in this Web Site will be uninterrupted or error free, that defects will be corrected or that this Web Site or the server that makes it available are virus or bug free or represent the full functionality, accuracy, reliability of the materials.
If any of these Terms and Conditions (or any terms and conditions relating to a product or service referred to in this Web Site) should be determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by reason of the laws of any state or country in which such terms and conditions are intended to be effective, then to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability, and in relation to such state or country only, such terms or condition shall be deleted and severed from the rest of the relevant terms and conditions and the remaining terms and conditions shall survive, remain in full force and effect and continue to be binding and enforceable. Nothing in these terms and conditions shall exclude Killie FC's liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence of Killie FC.
Intellectual Property Rights
All Intellectual Property Rights (including, without limitation, all database rights, rights in designs, rights in know-how, patents and rights in inventions (in all cases whether registered or unregistered and including all rights to apply for registration) and all other intellectual or industrial property rights in any jurisdiction) in any information, content, materials, data or processes contained in or to this Web Site belong to Killie FC or its licensed source. All rights of Killie FC in such Intellectual Property Rights are hereby reserved.
Jurisdiction and Law
Killie FC makes no representation that any product or service referred to on or through the Web Site is appropriate for use, or available in other locations. The information and other materials contained in this Web Site may not satisfy the laws of any other country and those who choose to access this Site from other locations are responsible for compliance with local laws if and to the extent local laws are applicable.
These Terms and Conditions and any terms and conditions relating to products or services described in this Web Site shall be governed by the laws of the United States of America.
Links to other Web Sites
Certain (hypertext) links, advertisements or suppliers promotion will lead you to Web Sites that are not under the control of Killie FC. When you activate any of these links, you will leave Killie FC Web Site by opening a new window and we have no control over and will accept no responsibility or liability in respect of the material on any such other Web Site. By allowing links with third party Web Sites Killie FC does not intend to solicit business or offer any security to any person in any country, directly or indirectly.
Force Majeure
Every effort will be made to carry out the contract but its due performance is subject to cancellation by Killie FC or to such variation as we may find necessary as a result of inability to secure labour, materials or supplies or as a result of any act of God, War, Strike, Lockout or other labour dispute, Fire, Flood, Drought, Legislation, or any other cause.
Killie FC
We have tried to make this website as accessible as possible and easy to use for everyone, regardless of circumstance or ability.
All our page templates comply with the WCAG Priority 2 checkpoints as a minimum requirement. And we make every effort to ensure that all the content on our site meets this standard too. We are making every effort to ensure that we don't exclude any users. For example:
We try to publish all our text content as accessible HTML rather than in other formats such as PDF. Where we do publish PDFs or other formats our policy is to make them as accessible as we can.
Please feel free to share the content of this page with your friends – simply click on where you would like to share it.