I took all my frustrations over Alessio out on my kids so it was time to quit Killie
SAYS KIRK BROADFOOT
KIRK BROADFOOT last night revealed that he had to leave Kilmarnock because he was taking his frustration with new boss Angelo Alessio out on his children.
The defender has signed a two-year deal to return to first club St Mirren after cutting short his time at Rugby Park.
And the former Rangers star claimed he was not the only Killie player unhappy with the methods of Steve Clarke’s successor.
Broadfoot was a regular with the Ayrshire side during his two seasons with the club, helping them to a third-placed finish last term and qualification for Europe.
But the team had initially struggled since Alessio (below) replaced Clarke, before steadying the ship with last weekend’s 1-0 Premiership win at St Johnstone.
Broadfoot, 35, insisted he was relieved to go, however, saying: ‘I could have stayed at Kilmarnock but I wanted to move on.
‘Me and the manager didn’t get on, so I didn’t want to stay there and be unhappy. I wanted to go and enjoy my football in the last few years of my career.
‘Change always happens with a new manager. But to go from black to white overnight and have a whole dressing room not enjoying it is something I didn’t want.
‘I didn’t enjoy training. I’m a big trainer and I love the gym. But I was going in every day and not enjoying it, then taking it home.
‘I was frustrated and angry with my kids and that wasn’t fair. So I decided to move on. You have to be happy day in, day out.
‘I think I would still have played at Kilmarnock this season but if you’re not happy then it would have come to a boiling point. You just get frustrated.
‘You’re doing things in training that you never do. I didn’t want to be training at a slow tempo and then having to go over to the gym to run on the treadmill because I wasn’t fit enough because training was so slow.
‘I came to St Mirren and right away it was a proper training session. I could feel it in my legs. That’s what I like.’
Broadfoot is eager to get going with Jim Goodwin’s side, having previously played for the club for five seasons.
He made 174 appearances for the Buddies, scoring eight goals during his first spell as well as being part of the 2005-06 First Division and Challenge Cup-winning side.
‘I’m delighted to be back at St Mirren. I said to my family that it would be nice to go back to where it all started to finish my career. And I think that’s how it will turn out,’ said the former Rangers, Blackpool and Rotherham player. ‘I know the club and it’s great to be back. Hopefully, I can get the good relationship back that I had with the fans before I left. ‘One thing they will know is that I give 100 per cent every week and that hasn’t changed over the years.’ With Broadfoot returning to the St Mirren defence, boss Goodwin says he had no qualms about sending Jack Baird on loan to bitter rivals Morton and reckons the defender will become one of the best players in the Championship.
Saints sprung a surprise by sending the 23-year-old down the M8 to Cappielow late on deadline day to join David Hopkin’s side.
But Goodwin reckons it’s important that Baird starts getting regular game time.
He said: ‘Jack just needs to get matches. He was getting a bit frustrated with the lack of game-time in recent weeks and the opportunity came up for him to go to Morton and get some regular first-team football.
‘I understand the rivalry between the fans of both clubs but the important thing for us is that one of our good players is getting regular first-team football. ‘Morton were the only ones to show an interest.
‘I gave that option to Jack and he was happy to go ahead with it. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
‘Morton are getting someone who I think will be one of the best centre-halves in the league and we are getting our player some game time.’ Speaking before the arrival of Broadfoot last night, Goodwin declared himself happy with his squad after bringing in ten new faces to replace the 15 who have moved on. ‘I’m really pleased with what I’ve managed to do,’ he said. ‘I can’t argue with the business we have done.’