Player power? Don’t make me laugh... we’re not a bunch of Paul Pogbas
Dicker denies Killie stars forced Alessio out and insists they didn’t stop trying
GARY DICKER has blasted suggestions it was player power that forced Angelo Alessio out of Rugby Park.
The Kilmarnock captain has lifted the lid on the dressingroom view to the Italian’s departure last week and claimed he needs to put the record straight. He insisted there was no Paul Pogba style revolt behind the scenes.
Dicker shot down the notion the squad were resisting the foreign coach’s new ideas and insists whoever comes in has a side determined to push towards the top three.
He said: “Everyone’s got their opinion on this and that but player power? They are having a laugh.
“If you look at player power you look at Pogba and Manchester United. I don’t think anyone in our dressing room is earning enough money or has enough clout to do that. Not at Kilmarnock, sadly, no. “I’ve never been on enough money to give it the old playerpower shout. Not for me or anyone else in that dressing room. “There’s been a lot of rubbish said about players not trying. Nobody in that dressing room is like that. “We have honest lads in here but maybe ones that are here and playing every week are not doing enough. It’s up to the other boys to step up and show they can come in and do a job. But there’s no lack of effort. You could never question the lads over that.”
Dicker dismissed talk players had taken control of the dressing room because they didn’t fancy Alessio’s methods.
He said: “I’ve played under foreign managers before. One of the best managers I ever played under was Gus Poyet. So to say players can’t adapt or do stuff like that is a lot of s **** .
“Nobody is not willing to learn. Everyone is always willing to learn different styles. But that is just another thing being thrown about.
“I don’t make decisions. Players are last to know things. You just get on with it. You have to. You can’t dwell. It’s not our business. We are here to play football. But I’m not having half the crap that’s come out this week.” Killie slumped to a third defeat on the spin against Motherwell at the weekend and Dicker admitted the upheaval didn’t help – but insisted it was no excuse.
He said: “It’s been tough. It always is when there’s change and you lose a manager. But players come and go, managers come and go.
“It’s hard but it’s not an excuse for not winning a game of football. You just have to get on with it, crack on and do your thing.
“Nothing really surprises you in football any more. You have to get on with it.
You just get your head down and try and pick up points.”
Coach Alex Dyer will remain in charge until the winter break and could land the gig on a permanent basis.
Dicker said: “It’s not up to me or any player to decide what’s going on. If you’re doing well and get results you never know what can happen. You don’t know who wants the job. Alex has said he’s not applied for it so I can’t answer that one either. All I can do concentrate is playing and trying to get points on the board.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. That’s three on the bounce we’ve lost and we have massive games coming up against Rangers then St Mirren and we need to get as many points on the board as possible before the break.” Dicker admitted Killie have been in wretched form but he insisted any new gaffer has the tools to succeed in Ayrshire.
The midfield general said: “Is it a crisis? No. But as a player you shouldn’t just settle for Kilmarnock being fifth. Who is happy being fifth?
I’m not happy being fifth. You have to strive to be the best you can. You can’t just accept mediocre. We are not cut adrift but you get sucked into it pretty quick. We are ambitious.
“We are not saying we are going to win the league or come third or second – but you have to aim for it.
“Why not aim to be the best of the rest if you can?”
I’ve never been on enough money to give it the old player power shout
GARY DICKER