Killie FC boss back at work before pre-season training

Jun 26 2009 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

WHILE most of us have still to enjoy our summer break, for Killie boss Jim Jefferies it was back to work this week ahead of pre-season training which begins on Wednesday, July 8.

I spoke to the manager ahead of a meeting with chairman Michael Johnston at which it would be decided if Killie return to their regular pre-season training camp at Il Ciccio in Italy.

If the trip does go ahead, the players will leave for a week’s intensive training on July 13.

Said the gaffer: “We thought about changing things this year, but when we look back we’ve always started the season well after preparing in Italy.

“If we go somewhere else, it might not be the same, so it’s the old scenario of sticking to what we know.”

Jefferies will be hoping for the same sort of start as last season when his side racked up ten points from a possible 12 from their first four league games.

And if that kind of form is repeated, Killie will rely heavily on goals from Kevin Kyle, just like they did at the tail-end of last season.

Said the manager: “We knew that we needed to strengthen in the striking area because of the guys we had lost in the last couple of seasons.

“Kevin wasn’t match fit when he arrived and it took him a few weeks to get into his stride.

“Once he got into the swing of things however, he showed what he is capable of and began scoring goals for fun. He’ll be a huge player for us this season.”

But the manager is well aware that to score his goals, Kyle and his fellow strikers will need service from the flanks.

“We have to make sure that our outfield play is good enough to create chances for the strikers,” he added.

As well as Kyle, Jefferies will be hoping that Allan Russell will get rid of the injury jinx that has hung over him since he arrived at the club.

The former Airdrie striker was injured at the training camp in Italy last summer and then had a season to forget as he spent more time on the treatment table than the playing field, restricting him to 11 starts and four appearances from the subs bench, netting three goals.

Then there’s Conor Sammon, now much wiser about life in the SPL after having spent a year in and out of the first team.

Said Jefferies: “It’s good that we’ll have competition up front. A lot of our play last season was good, but we didn’t convert enough chances on occasions and were punished for it.”

The manager is also looking for a big contribution from recent signing Graeme Owens from Middlesbrough, a surprise addition to the Killie squad, but sources at the north of England club suggest that he could become a big player for the Ayrshire side.

Although Jefferies’ squad may be restricted in numbers with just 21 outfield players, it has a compact, competent look about it, and it’s a big season ahead for the younger players such as Owens, Craig Bryson, Jamie Hamill, Ryan O’Leary, Iain Flannigan and Stephen Old, the latter of whom was on duty with the New Zealand squad at the Confederation Cup competition in South Africa.

The manager was this week busy trying to find out whether or not Damien Rascle would still be at Rugby Park next season, the French goalkeeper agonising over a leg injury he picked up just before the final game of last season.

Said Jefferies: “I’m hoping to find out the extent of the damage this week. If things don’t go Damien’s way, I’ll need to bring in another goalie.

“As far as Cameron Bell is concerned, he has had similar injury problems, but he’s had his medical and passed with flying colours. I hope to tie him up for another year within the next few days.”

Killie have still only one positive pre-season friendly booked, against Premiership side Burnley at Rugby Park on Thursday, August 6, but there may be more added to the schedule within the next week or so.

“We should have something sorted out in the next few weeks,” said the gaffer.