BLAIR RICH PROJECT IS PERFECT FOR KILLIE’S RETURN

BLAIR ALSTON insists leaders and big characters are needed for Kilmarnock to thrive on their return to the top flight.

And he’s adamant the Rugby Park dressing room is full of them.

Alston and his colleagues face Charlton in Spain today as the countdown continues to the campaign.

Boss Derek McInnes is trying to build a group capable of making an impact, using a blend of youth and experience.

Alston, at age 30, is one of the senior pros – along with Kyle Lafferty and Alan Power – whose nous will be vital to the manager.

Alston said: “We’ve a lot of experienced boys.

“When I was younger, they’d tell me to get that experience because when

you do, you’ll have it right throughout your career.

“When I look back I think, ‘Actually, I have picked up a lot’.

“And we have got a group of boys who have played a lot of games at a good level.

“That is going to help us next year because we know it is going to be tough. But we have got boys who have done it at different clubs and we have got boys who have done it here.

“It will stand us in good stead. Chris Burke said at the dinner at the end of the year that it was one of the best dressing rooms he had been in.

“Even the boys who weren’t happy at not playing stuck together. The camaraderie was brilliant.

“You need characters, big personalities, different types of people. You need leaders on the pitch, you need players who lead by example. We have that in abundance.

“It’s nice to be back in the top flight.”