ALEXANDER CASSIDY

@ ca55316

Last season was emotional. Winning the league against the team in second ( Arbroath) with a 90th- minute goal was absolutely electric.

The big talking point is how manager Derek Mcinnes [ above] will reshape his squad. There’s quite a bit of work to do. This season will be different because we’re back where we belong!

Our key player will be Kyle Lafferty as things stand. The guy is an enigma and fans absolutely love him.

I won’t be happy unless we get two full- backs in. We’re severely limited at both left- and right- back.

Our most underrated player is Blair Alston [ below]. I’ve loved the guy since he came to the club. When some fans were getting on his back early on last season, I backed him all the way. That iconic goal to win the league was the icing on the cake. The opposition player who grinds my

gears is James Tavernier. I just don’t think he’s any good.

Fans think our ground is too big. We don’t draw big crowds regularly. For the last home game against Arbroath, it was packed and bouncing. But unless it’s a massive occasion... The thing my club really gets right is its community interaction. The team do a cracking job. Fans think our owner is a man of his word. Though relegation was a disaster, Billy Bowie and the board promised the playing budget wouldn’t be cut… and that we’d go straight back up. The opposition player I’d love here is

Martin Boyle, who left Hibs for Saudi Arabia in January. Boy has goals in him.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is very high – the majority love Mcinnes, who took over in January and steered us to the title. Some of the football wasn’t pretty, but he got the job done. The player I’d happily drive to

another club is Dylan Mcgowan. Just doesn’t have it, I’m afraid.

The pantomime villain will be our own Rory Mckenzie. Some love him. Some hate him. The one change I’d make would be making sure that plans for a training facility in the town are realised. That would be a big leap forward.

We’ll finish either 6th or 7th.

FFT VERDICT

7TH

Staying up would mark success for Killie in their first season back in the top flight but – given his results with Aberdeen over an extended period – there are hopes Mcinnes can lead them well clear of any scrap. Re- signing former midfield stalwart Alan Power could be key.