KILLIE LINE UP DOUBLE STRIKER SWOOP
LEE CLARK has been given the go-ahead by the Kilmarnock board to add two new strikers to his squad as he looks to replace 11-goal Souleymane Coulibaly. The Rugby Park manager declined to confirm whether or not he would be able to spend on transfer fees following Coulibaly’s move to Egyptian side Al Ahly. Yet to be formally ratified, the sale of a player signed on a free transfer six months ago could be worth up to £1million for the Rugby Park club. Clark did, however, declare himself content about the outcome of discussions yesterday over how best to reinvest the cash. ‘I think Al Ahly have been a bit premature with their announcement because the paperwork hasn’t been completed and we haven’t got the documents we need,’ said Clark. ‘I had a positive meeting with the board this afternoon and I can now move on and try to bring in a couple of the targets I’ve identified. ‘I was happy with the outcome of the chat I had with our directors.’ One potential replacement is trialist Hakeem Araba, a 25-year-old striker last with Swedish side Falkenbergs FF. ‘He trained with us on Monday and took his goal well in the win for the Under-20s against Hearts on Tuesday,’ added Clark. ‘I would certainly hope to have two new strikers before this window closes. I believe that, in the central defensive and forward positions, you need four players for cover and competition. At the moment, we have Kris Boyd and Nathan Tyson. ‘Even if Souleymane hadn’t been sold, I was looking to bring in another striker because we’d lost Flo Bojaj, so wheels have been in motion for days.’ Clark has faced criticism for the number of players who have come in and out of Kilmarnock during his tenure. Seventeen were signed — either on free transfers or loans — earlier this season while 14 departed. Four more players have been added during the January window, but Clark believes Coulibaly’s sale proves there can be real merit in his methods. ‘You have to scour the market,’ he said. ‘I know some of the players that were brought in during the summer. No one had heard of them. ‘That is fine, but some of these players are the hidden gems. Souleymane has proved that. ‘Other signings I have made for my previous clubs have gone on to make those clubs large amounts of money as well. I take a lot of pride in that.’