RORY: NO HOLIDAY UNTIL WE’RE SAFE
RORY McKENZIE feared for Kilmarnock’s top-flight status and his dream holiday to Florida after facing Hibs in a final-day shoot-out three years ago.
The Rugby Park strike star is still refusing to hit the button on a summer break despite the Ayrshire side’s five-point cushion over second-bottom Motherwell.
Kilmarnock faced the dreaded prospect of a play-off had they lost at Easter Road three seasons ago and McKenzie was also worried about the wrath of his fiancee Natalie.
They had booked a trip to the Sunshine State and that date clashed with the drop battle.
Thankfully for McKenzie, Kris Boyd scored the only goal but he has never forgotten the nerves surrounding that match.
Despite Lee McCulloch’s men sitting in seventh place and looking safe with six games to go, he refuses to make summer plans. Ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Hearts, the 23-year-old said: “I learned early on never to book a summer holiday.
“Had we lost that game three years ago I’d have had to cancel the holiday and I couldn’t have afforded to pay that money. That was enough for me to say never again. It’s not good for the heart!
“Even with a five-point cushion there’s no chance I’ll be heading to the travel agents. I’ll be doing nothing until we’re mathematically safe. My fiancee Natalie has been told we can’t arrange anything yet.
“She’s been nagging me because she wants something organised but like me she faces a nervous end to the season.”
● McKenzie was speaking as the SPFL Trust Trophy visited Rugby Park yesterday. Visit trustedtrophytour.co.uk for info.