RORY: GAFFER CAN BE TOPS LIKE CLARKE
RORY McKENZIE has got lofty ambitions ahead of Kilmarnock’s Premiership return – thanks to boss Derek McInnes.
The long-serving Rugby Park forward sees shades of Steve Clarke in McInnes and reckons he can lead the Ayrshire aces to their highest finish since Clarke took them to third place back in 2019.
The Killie players got a reminder of the demands McInnes puts on them at half-time of their 4-1 preseason win over Falkirk on Friday night.
The 28-year-old, now in Spain with his team-mates for a pre-season training camp, said: “I don’t want to say Europe is possible and put pressure on us.
“But we do have a fantastic manager.
“There are similarities between the gaffer and Steve Clarke. He’s different in other ways but he is first class.
“He has experience of getting into Europe and doing well with Aberdeen.
“Hopefully he can do that here.
“The gaffer wants to be a winner. Even against Falkirk he wanted us to get a victory and b ***** ked us at half-time.
“That rubs off on the squad, especially the young lads. If people didn’t know what he expected, they do now.”
McKenzie hopes momentum from Killie’s Championship-winning campaign can help them get off to a fast start back in the top flight.
He added: “The winning mentality from last season can help us.
“There will be a feelgood factor around the place at the start of the season after winning the league and I’m really looking forward to being back.
“We aren’t going to set goals just yet.
“Anything will be better than a relegation battle and going down.
“I was involved in a few of them over the years and then to get relegated was as bad as it’s ever been.
“It’s something I don’t want to happen again.
“We’ve been in those battles in the past but we’ve a manager now who’s been involved with clubs near the top of the league and hopefully that helps us this year.”
Striker Kyle Lafferty and keeper Zach Hemming, on loan, have re-signed for another season.
The return of another familiar face, Alan Power, after one season at St Mirren is another bonus, according to McKenzie.
He said: “I’m delighted Alan has come back. He did so well here in his first spell. The fans like him, he’s combative and is going to bring real quality to us.”