GONE GIORNO
Killie boss Alessio sacked after player revolt as manager talks tactics with his coach in Italian
ANGELO ALESSIO was driven out of Kilmarnock yesterday on the back of a full-scale player revolt – after isolating himself from his team by speaking Italian in the dressing room.
The 54-year-old was sacked yesterday morning after just six stormy months in the Rugby Park hotseat with Alex Dyer handed the reins on an interim basis. Record Sport can reveal owner Billy
BILLY BROWN always feared Kilmarnock had gone for the wrong man when they appointed Angelo Alessio as boss.
But after naming him successor to Steve Clarke, the former Rugby Park No.2 insists the Italian was owed more time and greater respect from his board.
Brown, the head of the LMA in Scotland, has accused chairman Billy Bowie of being too trigger happy after grumbles from the fans were beginning to turn again to growls.
Alessio appeared to have survived the wrath of the Killie faithful after that Europa League calamity earlier in the season against Connah’s Quay.
But only one victory in their last eight league games, including back-toback defeats at Livingston and Ross County, did for Antonio Conte’s former assistant yesterday when he was sacked.
Now the hunt is on for a replacement – and Brown insists new head of football operations James Fowler need only look down his list of team-mates from the 1997 Scottish Cup triumph to find their inspirational new leader.
Brown said: “My first reaction to the news was that Kilmarnock acted very, very hastily.
“Their run hasn’t been good but I saw them beat Hearts 3-0 at Tynecastle only three weeks ago and they looked a good side. They were well organised, broke quickly, were solid at the back and dangerous on the break and they knew how they wanted to play and control a game.
“Admittedly, they have been on a bumpy road since then but if managers were sacked every time their team hit a bad patch then clubs would be appointing four bosses a season.
“In truth, I don’t know why clubs go for foreign managers in the first place because there are enough good Scottish ones who can fill these roles more than adequately.
“Alessio has been harshly dealt with, particularly as English wasn’t his first language. The board of directors knew that when they appointed him and he should have been given longer to adjust to more than just a different culture and style of football.”
An unhappy dressing room and discontent on the terraces appears to have forced the hand of Bowie and his board after Alessio had been in charge for just 22 matches.
He was on a hiding to nothing following Clarke’s departure to Scotland after he led Killie to a fifth and third-place finish in the table and was twice named Manager of the Year.
Brown said: “Alessio never
seemed to be a favourite at Kilmarnock, although he got off on the wrong foot with that absolutely disastrous defeat in the Europa League.
“If a manager isn’t popular and the team goes on a bad run then directors become jittery and feel they need to appease the support.
“Stories have been circulating about players not being happy but, let me tell you, the players who were getting a game every week would have been quite content.
“Steve’s performance made it more difficult for a new manager because he exceeded all expectations to finish so high in the league, playing a style of football fans enjoyed watching.“
Kilmarnock have employed 10 managers in the last decade and fans will hope the upheavel doesn’t continue.
The board will meet in the coming days to discuss candidates for a position filled in recent years by Lee McCulloch, Kenny Shiels, Gary Locke, Allan Johnston, Lee Clark and Mixu Paatelainen.
It’s understood the Kilmarnock board will not act quickly, with No.2 Alex Dyer stepping up in the meantime. Still part of the
Scotland team, he could also be handed the job if he impresses before the winter break.
Brown said: “I thought Gary Holt was a shoo-in when the job came up in the summer.
“No disrespect to Livingston – and I don’t even know if he’d have taken it – but they seemed the perfect fit. He is a big hero at the club, a local lad and popular player who won the Cup and I believed he’d have been tailor-made.
“There are others from the 97 Cup winning team, including Jim McIntyre, who must be in with a shout. Roy MacGregor has done great things with Ross County but gave Jim a really raw deal.
“I believe Kilmarnock will go for Scottish, or British, this time around.
“It’s a wonderful place and they’ll be comforted in the short term by the fact Alessio didn’t leave them in a perilous position.”