Killie FC set to make swoop for ex-Rangers goalie

Jul 3 2009 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

FORMER Rangers goalkeeper Lee Robinson is expected to meet with Killie boss Jim Jefferies this week with a view to signing for the Rugby Park club.

The Sunderland-born player, who turns 22 on Thursday was released by the Ibrox club at the end of last season and is currently unattached.

Jefferies has been forced into moving for a third keeper after Frenchman Damien Rascle failed a medical.

Said the gaffer: “We had to accept the advice of the medical people after a second opinion came up with the same problem.

“It’s a real shame, because Damien had done so well for us but it’s just one of those unfortunate things that football throws up. We just couldn’t take the risk.”

With only Alan Combe and Cameron Bell on his books, Jefferies has had to move quickly to get in another goalkeeper as training gets underway next Wednesday.

Twenty-two-year-old Bell, who made his first team debut in the final game of the season in the win over Motherwell, penned a new one-year deal last week with the option of another year if he plays a certain number of games.

Jefferies continued: “It’s imperative that we have another goalkeeper signed for the new season, and I’ll be talking to Lee on Thursday about him joining us.

“Nothing has been agreed ahead of the meeting, but he’s a young guy with a fair bit of experience under his belt.”

Robinson signed for Rangers in 2004 and made one top team appearance for the current SPL champions, coming on as a substitute for Ronald Waterreus for the last 12 minutes of Rangers 2-0 win over Hearts in December 2006.

In season 2007-8 he made 20 appearances for Morton during a loan spell with the Greenock club, and in the latter part of 2008 spent a month on loan with St Johnstone as backup to Alan Main.

Lee returned to Rangers at the end of 2008 but went out on loan again in the early part of 2009 to Queen of the South.

He played 18 matches for the Dumfries club, but was released by Rangers at the end of last season.

If Robinson does sign for Killie, then he’ll report along with the rest of the squad for the start of pre-season training on Wednesday.

And it looks as if the Rugby Park side will return again to their Italian training camp at Il Ciccio on July 13 for one week.

Said Jefferies: “The chairman has been on holiday, but I’ve not heard anything to the contrary.”

Killie are also awaiting confirmation of an away friendly against Raith Rovers at Starks Park on Tuesday, July 28.

The only confirmed pre-season match so far is against Premiership new boys Burnley on Thursday, August 6.

The Turf Moor club, managed by former St Johnstone player and manager Owen Coyle, were this week reportedly favourites to sign Hibs striker Steven Fletcher.