WILL POWER
Alan: I fell in with wrong crowd & was drinking career away.. I”ll do everything to stop Killie kids from making the same mistakes
ALAN POWER was in danger of throwing it all away nine years ago – now he wants to help Kilmarnock’s youngsters avoid the same pitfalls.
Fighting to make his way in the game at Hartlepool after leaving Nottingham Forest, the Irish midfielder was hurtling down a well-trodden dark path.
It’s an age-old problem for young footballers – getting in with the wrong crowd and making poor choices instead of climbing the ladder.
Power was on a slippery slope, prioritising partying over football and had made just six league appearances in two seasons at Hartlepool from 2008 to 2010.
But he managed to turn his career around with the help of former Tottenham star Justin Edinburgh who put him back on the right track at Rushden and Diamonds.
Now after six successful years at Lincoln the 29-year-old has earned his move to Rugby Park and he’s determined to help stop Killie’s kids from making the same mistakes.
Power said: “You have to help these young lads and give the benefit of experiences you’ve had in the game.
“When I first spoke to the gaffer Lee McCulloch he let me know that. He said we had about the youngest team in Europe at one stage and bringing in some experienced heads was key.
“Hopefully I can help as I needed that type of guidance earlier on in my career. When I first went into Nottingham Forest, I had it from guys such as Sammy Clingan, Gary Holt and Grant Holt.
“But then I think of being at Hartlepool. I had two years there and I don’t think I conducted myself in the right manner.
“I didn’t give myself the right chance to do well. It was my first time living on my own and I was making a decent wage.
“Suddenly I’d made a group of new friends that lived in the city and were not playing football.
“It was too easy to get tied into going into the town for a few drinks and not being fully into football.
“It’s easy done. A lot of people in their lives have breaks and go travelling but footballers can’t get away and it’s an easy trap to fall into.
“But Justin Edinburgh, who took me on loan to Grays Athletic when I was at Nottingham Forest, signed me for Rushden and Diamonds and gave me a fresh chance. It revived my career and I didn’t look back.
“He was a big influence. No one knew me from Hartlepool and it didn’t look as if I was going anywhere but he
got me to Rushden and I’ve taken things from there.
“It makes a difference in many ways. For a start, on the training ground, you want to be as good as the senior players and match up to them. There are times when we are going to have to manage games.
“There will be sticky situations and sometimes the young lads won’t have been through that. Scottish football is tough with a high tempo so you need to have the ability to kill games off.
“There is a real good core here. With the experience of the senior boys, the blend looks ideal. If we can help guide those lads through those initial stages then that will be ideal.”
Of course, Power has not just been brought in to Rugby Park to mentor Killie’s kids. He helped Lincoln to a title last season and drove the team to an FA Cup last-eight clash with Arsenal at the Emirates.
A new deal was on the table with the Imps for Power but the Irishman admits he responded to Killie manager McCulloch’s call because he wanted a fresh challenge.
He said: “This is a big change. I was comfortable at Lincoln.
“We won promotion last year and reached an FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal but I needed something to spark me again.
“When I first came to Scotland for a meeting with Lee, he was infectious. He’s bubbly and always laughing. The mentality is there from when he was a player but you can’t cross a line. That will get the best out of the lads.
“I know boys who play at Aberdeen and Motherwell, including Adam Rooney, Richard Tait and Craig Clay. So I knew the strength of the league and wanted to test myself.
“There are a lot of big games in this league now, a lot of big stadiums now and big crowds to play in front of.
“It will be different for me. Lincoln were selling out last season but it was 10,000. Now I’ll be playing in front of 60,000 and 50,000. It’s exciting.”
Power is currently with the rest of the group at a La Manga training camp in Spain but he can’t wait to get into competitive action against Ayr on Friday week. He said: “Being away with the group is important for me, it’s like returning to a first day at school.
“I had six years at Lincoln and it was a big step to move up but the lads have been very accommodating.
“I already feel part of the group, anyway. We know what we have to do. Rugby Park is a massive stadium and we need to get it rocking again.
“That will be down to us, how we play as a team, how we win games and are around town. We need to make sure we take the club forward.”
Killie are offering fans a special deal for the Betfred Cup tie against Ayr at Somerset Park, including return coach trip from Rugby Park, a pie and pint before travel and match ticket for just £30. To book call 01563 545312 or email christine@kilmarnockfc.co.uk