Move to Fife helps stop Kiltie ‘rotting’ away

Greg Kiltie insists he was denied a fair crack of the whip by Kilmarnock boss Angelo Alessio and could not risk “rotting” under the Italian.

The 22-year-old has joined Championship outfit Dunfermline on a season-long loan after failing to cement a starting berth at Rugby Park, with the swoop being seen as something of a coup for the Fifers.

The exit of the former Scotland under-19 international was decried by many Kilmarnock supporters.

Kiltie said: “It’s been frustrating for me because all my appearances this season have been from the bench and I want to be starting games.

“I made that clear to the manager at Kilmarnock (Alessio) and I don’t think I’ve been given a fair opportunity when I’ve done enough to justify that.

“I think the Kilmarnock fans would back me up on that.

“You need to look after yourself. I’ve been at Kilmarnock since I was a kid but if my chance isn’t going to come, then I want to go elsewhere and improve.

“I’ve got a year left on my contract at Kilmarnock so I need to play – I can’t be rotting away.”

Kiltie’s switch to the Pars was ratified as the clock ticked down on deadline day, with the player revealing that a dramatic 70-mile dash from his home in Ayrshire to East End Park was required when the opportunity came out of the blue. He smiled: “I didn’t know anything about it on Monday morning.

“I was just having dinner with my missus and I knew something might be in the pipeline but wasn’t too sure. Then I got a phone call from my agent saying: ‘Can you make it to Dunfermline?’ I said: ‘Definitely!’

“I spoke to the manager at Dunfermline and it just materialised pretty swiftly from there. I ended up through at East End Park at 10.30pm doing a quick medical. It was hectic.”

And there has been no shortage of glowing testimonials – including his old Killie teammate Lee Ashcroft, who is now vice-captain at East End Park.

He laughed: “Lee texted me on Monday night to say: ‘That’s you trying to get back in my card school? Well, it’s full!’

“No, I know how much he loves it here and that’s a big tick.”

Greg Kiltie has joined the Pars.