LOFTY AMBITION

Killie CAN challenge for title, insists Bowie

KILMARNOCK chief Billy Bowie has insisted the Rugby Park side can challenge for the Premiership title.

Steve Clarke’s men ended last season in fifth place, having been at the foot of the table when the former West Brom boss replaced Lee McCulloch last October.

On the way to establishing themselves as a top-six side, Killie beat Rangers at home and away, and Celtic at Rugby Park. No team outwith the Old Firm has been crowned champions of Scotland since Aberdeen under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1985.

In the short term, Bowie would be happy with another top-six finish next season. But the Killie majority shareholder and director claims there is no reason why the club can’t mount a challenge to add to their solitary Scottish title won in 1964-65.

‘Yeah, I would like to think so,’ he said. ‘What sort of timescale? We’ve got to be

modest. Yeah, it would be great if we could do it next year, but who knows? ‘We’ve really just got to see when the players come back how we play and how the other teams have fared (over the summer). ‘The other teams out there have got to up the ante and raise their game. It will be very competitive next year. But ideally finish top-six. ‘But this is a big stadium, a 19,000 stadium. Slowly, we are getting there. Seasonticket sales are going great at the moment. ‘If we can start to fill the stands here, do more commercial work, raise more funds towards the club, the more we can improve the player budget. ‘Every year, turnover has grown. The way I look at it, we have got all the tools for the job. We need to make sure for the players that all the facilities are there for them. Every year, we’ll build on that. ‘My strategy with my own business (Billy Bowie Tankers) is that, year on year, we grow by ten per cent. ‘Ideally, I’d see that as being something achievable here at Rugby Park as well.’ A former right-hand man to Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool and Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Clarke was linked with the Scotland and Rangers jobs before they went to Alex McLeish and Steven Gerrard, respectively. Bowie (above) knows more interest will come if Clarke continues in the same impressive fashion next season, but he hopes the manager will see out the two years left on his contract. ‘I’m confident he will be here,’ he told BBC Scotland. ‘Unless a bigger club comes along and gives him an offer he can’t refuse. But he’s happy here. The fans love him. ‘Sometimes you have to take that into consideration.’ Meanwhile, preparations are under way for next season, with nine players leaving Rugby Park. Captain Stevie Smith departs, while ex-Celtic goalkeeper Leo Fasan, midfielder Brad Spencer and striker Alex Samizadeh also exit. Loan stars Aaron Tshibola, Aaron Simpson and Jasko Keranovic have returned to their parent clubs, while youth players Ursene Mouanda and Thomas Dempsie were released.