We’ve avoided the drop, crowds are up and we play without fear.. let’s take the next step and try to make it in Europe
Jamie hopes Killie job inspires Clarke
JAMIE MacDONALD hopes that building Kilmarnock is all the challenge that Steve Clarke needs.
The keeper is relishing being part of the manager’s stunning revolution in Ayrshire.
In just over five months Clarke has lifted Killie from the doldrums and the foot of the Premiership to European chasers with a long-absent feelgood factor around the place.
Staggeringly, on projected points, the statistics of his 22 top-flight games suggest the club would have been second in the table just behind Celtic had he been in charge for the entire campaign.
Naturally, Clarke’s success has brought inevitable links elsewhere. Firstly the Scotland job, now Rangers.
Killie chairman Billy Bowie shot down talk of his boss going anywhere, insisting the club are building and the gaffer is part of the process.
That was music to the ears of MacDonald and the No.1 feels Clarke may well relish the project of maintaining the incredible momentum he has built up through half a season at the club.
He said: “The manager wants to test himself all of the time and he’s done it at all levels.
“Look at his managerial record and he’s been hard done by. It was panic stations at West Brom and Reading when they pushed the button after a sticky patch. They panicked and didn’t allow him the time.
“It was an unbelievable bit of business from our club to get him. When his name was linked, the boys were thinking there would be no chance with his CV, experience and standing in the game.
“The fact the club went out and got him was a magnificent job. It’s been a great appointment.
“It’s natural he’ll now get linked everywhere but he might be one of those people who likes his own challenge.
“We have always said this is a big club and, if you can get the fans back regularly to the levels of the cup tie with Aberdeen, you are talking top five or six crowds-wise.
“You have actually started to see it in the home games over the past two months. We’ve been edging up slowly. We’re getting up to the 4000 mark of home fans against Ross County and St Johnstone.
“The Aberdeen cup game was about 7000. If you get most of them back regularly and start to always be around the 5000 or 6000 mark every week, it’s almost double your gates.
“That brings more revenue, which helps the manager build the squad and then why can’t you challenge for European places every year in the league. With the training ground coming as well, there is a decent club here.”
Clarke has rejuvenated Kilmarnock and also taken away worry. In the past couple of seasons the club has entered the international break in full-stress mode with relegation a real possibility.
But Clarke has banished that in an instant. Secure in the top six the players can breathe and enjoy the rest of their season. MacDonald said: “It makes a difference as opposed to thinking of a relegation battle.
“This time the past two years, there has been nervousness, so it’s nice so early to have that off your back. No looking over shoulders and the opportunity to look forward and finish as high as we can.”
Striker Kris Boyd is adamant those heights could perch as lofty as fourth spot and a European berth.
The keeper says that incentive and a motivation to stay part of Clarke’s long-term thinking will drive the squad.
He said: “The first objective was always to get away from the bottom two places but our aim now is to be as high as possible.
“The worst possible scenario is we’ll finish sixth, so why not give it go.
“Okay, Celtic look like winning it but Rangers, Aberdeen and Hibs will all think they can get second, while fourth may well get European football.”
EXCLUSIVE