Come on Killie and play ball

Jun 12 2009

IN response to the letter in last week’s Standard, I think it only fair that we clarify some points with the Kilmarnock community.

As one of the younger members of the committee, the person who resigned took on board the job of updating the Young Killie website with the kids’ birthdays etc. When it came to light this was not happening and she was asked why, her response was ‘I don’t have a computer’.

Now when she resigned four other members of the committee (most of whom are her relations) spat out their dummies and resigned also. This is when they went to Kilmarnock Football Club.

Instead of getting both sides of the committee together, the chairman of Kilmarnock FC, Michael Johnston, saw an opportunity to hijack the reputation and pool of kids the Young Killie has built up, to give his coaching staff more work and reap the benefits of the monies generated.

The Young Killie, who receive no financial assistance from Kilmarnock Football Club, have never even had free tickets from the club for football matches.

Kilmarnock FC should be embracing the Young Killie, not threatening them with legal action if they continue to use the name Killie.

Kilmarnock FC has also taken the sponsorship deals off of the Young Killie. How can this possibly be good for the Young Killie organisation?

In hijacking the sponsors from Young Killie, they are leaving the kids high and dry, as the sponsorship and Young Killie fundraising efforts were the only means of income.

I don’t think these bully-boy tactics will sit well with the Kilmarnock community, and the only losers will be the kids, who don't need professional coaching until their latter years! They just want to have fun playing football and to support their heroes!

Please get together and come to a quick and sensible conclusion for the good of Kilmarnock FC and the Young Killie.

You all keep telling the kids it is a team game.

Well show them this is true, because it was a better organisation when you all were involved.

– Jim Wales, Kilmarnock.