Manager hails Dicker’s contribution as captain departs, but new playing budget will remain same

Tommy Wright highlighted Gary Dicker's service to Kilmarnock as the Killie captain led a long list of players departing Rugby Park following relegation.

The Ayrshire club will play Championship football next season after defeat to Dundee in their Scottish Premiership play-off final.

Boss Wright and the Kilmarnock board moved quickly to begin work on the rebuild and 34-year-old Dicker, who joined the club in 2016, leaves at the end of his contract along with Clevid Dikamona, Aaron Tshibola, Youssouf Mulumbu, George Oakley, Diaguely Dabo, Nicke Kabamba, Danny Whitehall, Danny Rogers and Ally Taylor.

Wright told the club's official website: "It's never a nice time when you're releasing players, and I'd like to thank those leaving for their time at the club.

"In particular, I'd like to thank Gary Dicker. He's been a wonderful servant and captain for Kilmarnock, someone who I have a lot of time for.

"Difficult decisions have to be made as we look to build for the future."

Four loan players have departed and returned to their parent clubs; Zeno Rossi, Colin Doyle, Zech Medley and Brandon Pierrick.

Aaron Mcgowan, Rory Mckenzie, Alan Power and Brandon haunstr up are under contract for next season, while Innes Cameron has signed a new two-year deal.

New deals will be offered to Kyle Lafferty, Greg Kiltie, Mitch Pinnock, Ross Millen, Calum Waters, Kyle Connell and Tomas Brindley, while veterans Chris Burke and Kirk Broadfoot are considering their future.

Pirector Phyllis Mcleish has confirmed Wright will be able to keep his Premiership budget in the Championship.

Cut-backs elsewhere will, however, have to be made as the club prepare for a massive drop in income.

"Obviously we've been looking down the barrel of a gun for more than a couple of weeks," she said. "So we have been speaking about what's going to happen in the future.

"We decided last week that whatever happened against Dundee we ware going to stick with the player budget we've got. There will not be a reduction. There will be impacts in other areas of the club obviously. Our turnover is going to go down, but we will manage that.”