Clarke: Do I have seeds of doubt about the Cup? You Bet
STEVE CLARKE is gearing up for a Premiership curtainraiser today but admits he can’t get the baffling Betfred Cup out of his head.
The Kilmarnock boss saw his side finish top of their section in a group format he’s not a big fan of.
And he can’t understand why Killie were then handed a tie with seeded Rangers.
Clarke, preparing to face BY DAVID WREN St Johnstone this afternoon in the Premiership, said: “The Betfred Cup is a little like drawing teeth – it’s a long process to qualify.
“It’s a strange competition where you can be seeded and win your group unbeaten then not be seeded for the next stage.
“I really don’t understand the rules of the Betfred Cup at all. It appears to have been thrown together.”
Killie haven’t won on the opening day since 2009 but Clarke is looking to change that against Saints.
He said: “We made a half-decent job of turning things round last season and we’ll try to do that again.
“But Saints have been a model of consistency.”
Clarke also revealed midfielder Diego Poyet, who had been training at Rugby Park, was unlikely to sign a deal after suffering an injury.
Gary Dicker will walk out with mascot daughters Eva and Anna today – because he thinks the girls would be terrified of captain Kris Boyd.
Dicker said: “My daughters will walk out with me. They’d be scared of Boydie with his screaming and shouting.”