From trophy triumph to turmoil for Kilby

One of the biggest sports stories in the town during 2014 was the incredible highs and lows that hit K-Park over the space of seven days at the end of May.

East Kilbride Football Club won the SFA South Region Challenge Cup f i nal on May 24 with a 2- 0 v i c t o r y ove r Dal beat t i e St a r. It was the club’s first trophy in their maiden season and the jubilant scenes at Palmerston will live long in the memory of the players, fans and management team.

But, unfortunately, so will the days that followed.

While the dust settled on the postmatch celebrations, the club were preparing t o sack cup- winning ma n a g e r I a i n Ki n g , f o l l o w i n g d i s a g r e e ments wi t h t h e c l u b’s hierarchy.

And just three days after lifting the trophy, King was dethroned and sent packing from K-Park.

His assistant and best mate, Craig Young, was offered King’s job but he refused.

Players were told the news two days l ater and several cup f i nal stars, including Kieran Daw and Chris McDougall, vowed never to return to the club. McDougall also claimed the management team had been “stabbed in the back.”

The days t hat f ollowed didn’t re f l ect well on t he cl ub as t hey re c ei v ed a bar ra ge of c r i t i c i s m f rom f ans over t heir decision t o oust their cup-winning manager and it was revealed club secretary Dave McKenna had asked King – a journalist – to write the press release about his own sacking.

Furthermore, i t t ook t he club s i x days t o re l ease a s t at ement confirming King’s departure and EKFC then “withdrew co-operation” with t he EK News f ollowing our coverage of the story.

An interview with newlyappointed boss Billy Ogilvie was refused before the club finally began co-operating with the News again in July ahead of East Kilbride’s preseason match with Clyde.

After one of the great highlights in our town’s footballing history, it was a shame to see all that hard work tarnished in the aftermath.