Shiels: Killie club of the year

Kenny Shiels believes Kilmarnock should be recognised as the “the club of the year”.

Therugby Park outfit almost dropped out of the Scottish Premier League in 2010, but completed their recovery and rejuvenation on March 18, when they wontheleaguecupfor the first time by beating hot favourites Celtic 1-0 in the final at Hampden.

Shiels’ side missed outon a top-six finish in the SPL, but is battling to hold on to seventh place and take on Aberdeen atrugbypark today.

Asked how he would sum up the season to date, the Kilmarnock manager said: “I think we have been the club of the year, when you look at where we have came from.

“What you have to do when you are summing up how a team has performed is look at what their inheritance was at the beginning of the season.

“When you are signing players from Yeovil, Scunthorpe, York, Luton, nonleague, and bringing them together and you are seventh in the league with two games to go and you have won a cup — and beaten one of the Old Firm in the final, whichisunheardof— the answer to the question is quite obvious.

“I think we have done fantastic, that hasn’t been acknowledged as much as it should have been, but we know about it. We know how well we have done and that’s all that matters.”

Askedifhewould feel the same way regardless of how the final two SPL games went, he replied: “Yes, and why not? “I don’t see how anyone could think any different.”