Bring in sexy name to add the oomph Killie so badly need
IF ever a club desperately needed a lift both on and off the park it’s Kilmarnock in their current state.
Languishing at the foot of the Premiership table, the Ayrshiremen are without a league win and a manager after Lee McCulloch’s departure.
Perennial relegation strugglers, the crowds have dwindled and those who bother to turn up at Rugby Park have become tired of the continual fight against the drop.
Michael Johnston was the controversial figure who was blamed for so long for turning the fans away – but even his departure hasn’t helped them move on.
At one time Rugby Park, certainly under Tommy Burns in the early 1990s, was a joy to visit but it’s often soulless now.
They also had a great travelling support – for a reminder check out footage of Bobby Williamson’s winner at Ibrox in their first season back in the top flight in 1993.
The Ayrshire faithful filled the bottom of the Broomloan Road stand on that occasion and Killie fans followed their team in huge numbers up and down the country.
So what do they need to get the juices flowing again? The appointment of one of the sexy names to have thrown their name into the ring would be a start.
The playing CVs of Portuguese legend Jorge Costa and former German international Stefan Effenberg certainly don’t need talked up.
The pair had glittering careers with a couple of Champions League winner’s medals, numerous domestic honours and more than 80 caps for their respective countries between them.
Record Sport colleague Craig Swan said in his Sports View yesterday that now is not the time for Kilmarnock to be experimenting and they should be looking for the tried and tested for their next appointment.
Sorry Craig but the Ayrshiremen should be getting away from the norm.
Take a punt and generate a bit of excitement that might just get those turnstiles clicking again.
Clubs often run a mile and applications from big-name players are treated with scepticism – such as Edgar Davis who was interested in the Hearts job.
But providing they are within the club’s budget, then Costa and Effenberg are two options that would be worth exploring and could add some much-needed oomph.
For a clutch of clubs in the Premiership they are happy to simply finish 10th in the top flight. Would the likes of Costa or Effenberg be any worse than a so-called safe pair of hands?
Killie’s major shareholder Billy Bowie promised to cast the net wide and the spin-off of a big name could be getting bums on seats.
Effenberg’s first job in management at Paderborn might not have gone to plan but Costa has more experience in the dugout.
The 45-year-old was Jose
Take a punt to generate excitement that might just get the turnstiles clicking again
Mourinho’s onfield lieutenant at Porto where the defender skippered them to UEFA Cup glory against Celtic in the Final in Seville and the Champions League title 12 months later.
As a boss he led Braga to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup where they lost 6-4 to Spurs and was also a success at Olhanense, guiding them to the Portuguese top tier for the first time in 34 years.
Costa, like Effenberg, could also tap into a network of top contacts from his time at the highest level in the game which could only benefit Killie.
At the very least the Rugby Park club should listen to what they have to offer.
Both are clearly keen on the move and big enough names to make them interesting options.