Hibs pile more misery on Killie after league kicks off investigation

Alex Dyer insisted it would be unfair for Kilmarnock to be blamed for their coronavirus outbreak by the Scottish Professional Football League.

It was announced on Friday that the governing body had launched disciplinary proceedings against the club for an alleged breach of protocols ahead of their postponed fixture against Motherwell.

Killie’s full squad was forced to self-isolate after six positive Covid-19 tests, but Dyer remains adamant the club followed the rules. He said: “If the SPFL start blaming or having inquiries every time someone goes down with the virus they’re going to have a lot of work to do.

“I believe it won’t be the last time this happens. We’ve come down with it, St Mirren too, and there will be other clubs. I hope there aren’t, but there is a chance it will happen.

“We ’ v e followed protocols since we came back on June 15. We’ve had one outbreak. We’ve done our job, the club has worked hard to do the right things and now we’re going to have an inquiry. They want to put the blame on somebody and it’s not right.”

The date for the hearing, led by an independent chair, is expected next week but it is an unnecessar y distraction for a Killie side looking to kick-start their disrupted season.

The Ayrshire side made an emphatic return to league duty last weekend in the win against Livingston but struggled in defeat to Hibs.

In- form Kevin Nisbet grabbed the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the 26 th minute after Christian Doidge was adjudged to have been fouled by Clevid Dikamona.

Dyer’s frustration that the offence occ urred “outside the area” was later compounded by a serious-looking leg injury to Dikamona, which saw the Congo international stretchered off.