Kenny's View on Reconstruction and the season

Jan 18 2013 by David Wren, Kilmarnock Standard

Kenny Shiels has suggested Scotland should look across the pond for the way forward on league reconstruction.

The Kilmarnock gaffer favours an American model where teams split into regional leagues.

But he’s open-minded about the current plans set to go before league clubs.

The Killie boss was speaking ahead of the game against Dundee United on Saturday.

Kenny said: “Reconstruction is just a way of adding excitement at the end of the season.

“We could attempt to adopt an American model, where there are six teams in a regional league and you play each other four times before you determine who goes into the play-offs. But perhaps that wouldn’t work over here.”

The proposed league reconstruction will see two leagues of 12 and one league of 18. However, midway through the season the top two sections would be split to make three leagues of eight.

If the proposal goes through, the SPL and SFL will be replaced with one single entity. The plans have been opposed by several clubs so far but Kenny remains open-minded about the situation.

He said: “The bottom four and the top four start from scratch when they merge. It would be interesting, definitely.”

The past year has been a whirlwind for Kilmarnock, winning the League Cup in March as well as beating both sides of the Old Firm away from home.

The team have also went on a five game unbeaten run since defeating Aberdeen at Pittodrie in December and are sitting in seventh place in the SPL with a game in hand, which could see them go up to fifth.

Liam Kelly left the club last week for English Championship strugglers Bristol City but the Killie manager has said it is unlikely that the club will be bringing anyone else in.

He explained: “I don’t see anyone coming in this month. But that will give us a good chance to promote our youth and we will try to bring them through as much as we can.”

The Standard reported last week that playmaker Gary Harkins would not be leaving Kilmarnock and after an offer came in from Dundee to take him on loan, the player has since rejected the deal.

Kenny said: “I want him to fight for his place here, if you get players fighting, it gives you a foundation to build on.”

Killie play Dundee United on Saturday at Rugby park before facing two tricky away games against Dundee and Celtic.

Kenny Shiels and his men will look to build on their unbeaten run to continue their charge into the top six.