Two top players to leave Kilmarnock

Jun 5 2009 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

TWO OF Killie’s most experienced players have been released at the end of their contracts.

Midfielder Allan Johnston and versatile defender Grant Murray are both keen to continue playing and neither should have difficulty in getting fixed up for the season ahead.

The vastly experienced Johnston, 35, played with Hearts, Rennes, Sunderland, Rangers and Middlesbrough before arriving at Rugby Park in 2004.

During his time in Ayrshire he made 107 starts for Killie and scored five goals.

Murray, 33, began his Killie career in 2006 and scored two goals in 55 starts for the first team. He’d previously played for Hearts, St Johnstone and Partick Thistle.

Said manager Jim Jefferies: “Allan hasn’t played much in the last couple of years because of injury.

“He’s been involved in the coaching side of things with the club but he told me he wants to continue playing.

“He understands the situation here and now’s the time for him to move on.

“He’s done very well for us since he came here and he’s a dream to work with, a very professional guy with a great attitude.

“I’ve spoken to his agent within the last few days and he told me that there have been a few enquiries about him – some in a coaching capacity and some as a player/coach.”

Murray is another terrific professional, added the manager, and he also won’t have any difficulty in finding a new club for next season.

He continued: “Grant was brought in as a squad player who could play in several positions, but he’s at the stage in his career where he wants to play more regularly.

“The bottom line is that we have cover in the defensive areas, with Tim Clancy, Jamie Fowler and Jamie Hamill all showing during last season that they can play in the right back position, and we have Steven Old coming in to give us more options in central defence.”

Jefferies said that he still had one or two out of contract players to speak to this week before heading off for a well-earned break.

One of those is David Lilley who went through an operation on his wrist last Monday, following an injury in the season’s last game at Motherwell.

“David had a plate inserted in his wrist so we’ll just have to wait and see how his recovery goes,” said the manager, “but I’ll be talking to him this week as well as the other guys who are out of contract.”

The others include goalkeepers Damien Rascle and Cameron Bell, the latter of whom made his first team debut in the win at Fir Park.

As far as new additions to the squad for next season, the likelihood of that happening may depend on others moving out, probably involving swap deals.

“Whether or not we get someone in on a swap deal is always a possibility,” said Jefferies, “for you never say never in this game.”

*One former Killie player on the move in the last week was Paul Di Giacomo, who moved to Ross County from Airdrie.