PROMOTION SPARKS DEL’S ENTHUSIASM
DEREK McINNES says time out of the game taught him to savour every second as he brought Kilmarnock back to the heights of the Premiership.
And the Killie boss admits a 17-month absence from the top-flight platform has whetted his appetite for the season ahead.
McInnes parted company with Aberdeen on March 8, 2021 after eight years in charge.
He was lured back to the dugout in early January to rescue Killie’s ailing promotion challenge.
After that successful mission he stressed he’s content at Rugby Park.
McInnes said: “I’m looking forward to it. I feel at home here. I enjoy my job and I’ve loved being back working with players.
“When you’re out of the game and then come back in it makes you enjoy the good times more than you have in the past.
“Football is full of highs and lows. I enjoyed winning the title, you have to. Experience tells you there are disappointments which you want to keep to a minimum.
“When you see improvements on and off the park and you’re working for good people and with good players, the enjoyment is there.
“I know how important the club is to the fans and we want to continue to improve this year.
“I want us to embrace being back in the top flight and have confidence we can win games.”
McInnes loved the wave of support and recognition from the Killie faithful as they got behind their team in the Championship.
But he cautioned the only way to keep that feelgood factor going is to
keep winning. McInnes said: “We’ve sold a lot of season tickets, which is great. We have a connection with the supporters but we know if we don’t win games that could go.
“The challenge is there. It won’t be easy but we’re determined to make the most of it.
“From my point of view, we must find ways to win and be competitive.
“I want us to have a goal threat and be confident no matter who we play.”
Killie signed off their pre-season trip with a 1-0 win over Charlton in Spain.
McInnes has only brought in three players but wants more in place before the Premier League campaign kicks off this month, with former Motherwell star Liam Donnelly a target.
He said: “We need to bring more additions to the club.
“We really need to try and put the foot to the gas to make sure we bring another few players in.”