Billy: I’m Kean as mustard
Stark says ambition of club owners James and Paul sold him on EK job
FORMER Celtic No.2 Billy Stark admits it was the ambition of East Kilbride chiefs James and Paul Kean that persuaded him to return to football management.
The 60-year-old was sold on a move to the Lowland League club after speaking to the old friends of Hoops legend Tommy Burns who he worked for between 1994 and 1997.
It’s a major coup for Kilby to land a manager of Stark’s calibre and the exScotland caretaker boss is confident he can fulfil their SPFL dream after they club narrowly missed out last season.
He said: “I am delighted to be back in management. I was looking for work so to get this opportunity with East Kilbride is fantastic.
“The ambition and enthusiasm of the club’s owners James and Paul Kean just blew me away. I knew that James enjoyed a close relationship with Tommy.
“I had no doubt I’d become East Kilbride boss once I spoke to James and Paul. I had been to K-Park a few times and really admired their set-up. It just felt right.
“It is a big challenge but it’s one I am looking forward to. East Kilbride have never hidden the fact that they want to be an SPFL club. Hopefully I can achieve that.
“Everybody is keeping an eye on East Kilbride because they see how well they have done in the short space of time.”
Stark – who also enjoyed spells in charge of St Johnstone, Morton and Queen’s Park – replaces Martin Lauchlan who left after Kilby’s League Two play-off shoot-out defeat by Cowdenbeath.
Former Albion Rovers No.2 Stark left Cliftonhill at the end of last season and now faces an immediate meeting with his old club after Kilby were drawn with Rovers, Hamilton, Stenny and Queen of the South in Section G of the Betfred Cup.
He said: “There are some great games to kick off our season. It will be a chance to measure ourselves against clubs from the Premiership and Championship.
“This is a great challenge for the players and we want to give a good account of ourselves. I am looking forward to going up against a few familiar faces.” BILLY STARK