Clarke has no problem with fierce pundit Boyd

A GOAL against Hearts prior to the international break confirmed Kris Boyd remains cold blooded inside the penalty area. The subsequent days proved he is no less ruthless in his punditry.

The Kilmarnock striker generated headlines when he described some of the call-ups for Scotland’s friendly against Holland as a ‘laughing stock’. Suggesting the inclusion of three Aberdeen players was motivated by ticket sales at Pittodrie, Boyd even branded Graeme Shinnie ‘not good enough’ for international level.

Not that his criticism was confined to the north east. Boyd (below) also questioned Ryan Jack’s merits, claiming he has had ‘more red cards than good games for Rangers this season’. It was a forthright series of verbal punches delivered via Radio Scotland. Parries from within the national team camp continued the agenda Boyd had set.

No one employed in media should be priggish about Boyd’s opinions. Frankly, the stir he caused added colour to a week spent wishing Scotland were involved in the World Cup play-offs.

But what about inside the game itself? There is an argument that Boyd, still playing in the Ladbrokes Premiership, has broken the unwritten rule of not castigating fellow professionals. Some will see an element of conflict between his two jobs.

Killie boss Steve Clarke is unlikely to ever mirror his captain in terms of outspokenness. A measured public presence speaks both of his natural personality and a depth of experience.

Clarke insists Boyd is only doing what is expected of him when he takes to the airwaves. He also has advice for anyone who is upset: turn off your radio and ignore it.

‘Do what I do: don’t listen to the pundits,’ said Clarke. ‘You have to have your own opinion. If someone has an opinion about you or someone else, it is up to you whether you take it on board. I just go on my own merry way and ignore them.

‘I think if you are a pundit, you have to give an opinion. Otherwise there is no point being a pundit. I think that’s what Kris does.’

But isn’t there a danger Boyd will have given Aberdeen extra motivation when they visit Rugby Park a week tomorrow?

‘We’re playing Dundee this week, so we’ll talk about Dundee,’ countered Clarke. ‘He (Boyd) has not spoken about Dundee this week. Dundee will be motivated because they are bottom of the table and they could catch us.

‘Next week we can talk about Aberdeen.’ That would seem a given. Clarke, though, can hardly be faulted for keeping his focus on today’s trip to Dens Park. There would be great value in Killie maintaining or improving the three-point advantage they currently enjoy over their hosts. This will be the sixth game since his appointment sent a surge of optimism through the Ayrshire club. Prior to his arrival, they had managed only three draws from the first eight league games. Two wins, two draws and a defeat have followed.

‘I am happy with the way the players have responded to me,’ insisted Clarke. ‘I’m disappointed with the points tally, because I feel we left a couple of points behind that we should have had.

‘It’s a little bit mixed, really. But I’ve obviously enjoyed it. It’s been good to be back involved again. I’m just looking forward to trying to kick on from what’s been a reasonably solid start.

‘We have nine matches coming up (before the winter break) and we have to get more points. This would be a good time to get three points or one point.’