‘High-calibre’ Clarke has lifted Kilmarnock spirits, says Broadfoot

Kilmarnock defender Kirk Broadfoot has revealed Steve Clarke has already lived up to high expectations.

Broadfoot and his teammates were lifted by the arrival of the former Reading and West Brom boss following the departure of Lee Mcculloch.

The centre-back played with Mcculloch at Rangers and was sad to see him go but the former Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool coach has quickly raised spirits ahead of his first match in charge at Ibrox tonight. Broadfoot said: “You don’t like to see anyone losing their job. Obviously I played with Lee. I wouldn’t say we were close friends but we kept in touch and I was grateful for him bringing me here to my local side.

“Sometimes it doesn’t work out at clubs but I’m sure Lee will turn out to be a great manager. It’s one of those things but the manager has come in and everyone has got a lift and everyone is enjoying it so far.

“I don’t think the players believed that a manager of that calibre who has managed at that level would come up to Scotland just now, but the players were all delighted.

“The ideas have been brilliant in training, the players have really enjoyed it.

“He has made it fun defending. We have played wee games but it’s all game-related and it’s got a fun side to it as well. Everything in terms of shape is geared towards the game.”