NO REASON TO BE BITTER
McCulloch feels only pride at the progress made by Kilmarnock since his departure
LEE MCCULLOCH feels no anger over his demise as Kilmarnock manager. No jealousy or resentment at the instant impact made by his successor Steve Clarke.
Instead, the Rangers legend feels pride. Followed closely by satisfaction.
McCulloch left Rugby Park by mutual consent after eight games without a win and with the club rooted to the bottom of the Premiership. Relegation looked a question of when rather than if.
Five months later, the team is transformed. Fifth in the top tier after losing just one of their last 19 games, a place in the top six is secure. And McCulloch couldn’t be happier for his former club.
‘There are so many positives at Kilmarnock and it’s great to see,’ he insisted. ‘It is very satisfying to see indeed.
‘A lot of people would go the other way. But I still look at having to bring in 12 players — and the recruitment was done right.’
There is no attempt to take credit for the Midas touch of his successor. only a quiet air of vindication that the players he signed, like Eamonn Brophy, Stephen o’Donnell and Kirk Broadfoot, proved his judgment was sound eventually.
There is pride, also, in Kris Boyd. Former team-mates at Ibrox, the presence of the veteran striker and Broadfoot at Rugby Park didn’t please everyone. Accused of being part of an old boys’ network, Boyd’s 20 goals have placed him at the top of the scoring charts. Aged 34 and 33, respectively, there’s life in the old legs yet.
‘If you look at how Boydy starts pre-season, it takes him that plus three or four games to get real match fitness,’ said McCulloch. ‘That goes back to his time at Rangers.
‘I know it and he knows it. People will say it’s an old pals’ act but it’s not.
‘Kirk Broadfoot has come in and been one of the best defenders in the league, but folk said it was because I was his pal.
‘That’s not true — I did it because I knew he was a right good player and available.’
Boyd is fast becoming one of the stories of the season.
For long enough, it seemed the striker was easing down the gears, making the gradual switch from playing football to talking about it on television and radio.
A divisive figure, Boyd is silencing his critics with his goals and exuberant celebrations.
‘Big Boydy has 20 goals, 15 in the league, at 34 and he’s not really changed the way he plays since his first spell at Rangers,’ said McCulloch.
‘Scoring is the hardest thing in football and that’s why the strikers get the most money at the highest level.’
The accusation against Boyd has never changed. Never the quickest or the most athletic of footballers, he relies on others to do his running and lay chances on a plate. In that respect, Brophy and winger Jordan Jones are as much a part of his success as the man himself.
‘he depends on others creating chances for him and that’s what they are doing,’ added McCulloch.
‘Eamonn Brophy came in from hamilton after we went for him.
‘At the time, I didn’t think we’d get him in a million years — but we pushed it through. he’s turned out to be a tremendous signing.
‘Stephen o’Donnell was released by luton and we brought him in.
‘Given his form, he is probably unlucky not to be in the Scotland squad. At his age, there is potential for him to kick on and he has good resale value.’
unusually, McCulloch holds Kilmarnock directors in the same regard as the players.
Major shareholder Billy Bowie and fellow director John Kiltie made no attempt to push him out the Rugby Park exit.
After eight games without a win, McCulloch felt he had taken the team as far as he could. New ideas were needed and he believes the Killie board are reaping the rewards of their passion for the club.
‘It’s not as if they sat me down and said: “You’re fired”,’ insisted McCulloch, fresh from a brief seven-week spell coaching in Poland with lechia Gdansk. ‘I asked to speak to them at the time.
‘It was a mutual call and that’s why the relationship is still there.
‘Billy is a Killie fan who wants the club to get bigger and it’s time for the Kilmarnock fans to get back and create the atmosphere that used to be there ten years ago.
‘A lot of fans said they didn’t want to go back when a certain director (former chairman Michael Johnston) was there and then it was they wanted a winning team.
‘Now there are no excuses and the fans need to back the team.’
There are so many positives at Rugby Park now and it is great to see